Pacific Marines Stories

A CH-53E Super Stallion, with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466, hovers to pick up a 500-gallon drum of water from U.S. Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group and 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division during a Helicopter Support Team drill at Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, Calif., Oct. 25, 2016. The drum was taken into the Sierra Mesa Mountains to support Marines who are conducting field operations during Mountain Exercise 6-16. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Adam Dublinske) - A CH-53E Super Stallion, with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466, hovers to pick up a 500-gallon drum of water from U.S. Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group and 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division during a Helicopter Support Team drill at Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, Calif., Oct. 25, 2016. The drum was taken into the Sierra Mesa Mountains to support Marines who are conducting field operations during Mountain Exercise 6-16. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Adam Dublinske)

III MEF LOGO - III MEF LOGO

A United States Military Working Dog Services Award rests on retired military working dog, Patti’s neck after her award ceremony Oct. 24 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. The U.S. War Dogs Association promotes the recognition and honor of military working dogs nationwide and presents awards to handlers and dogs who have remained committed to excellence in their work over the years. Patti received the award for her actions during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Patti served as a combat tracking dog, and though injured in the line of duty, returned to recertification several months of rehabilitation later. Today, she lives happily with her former handler and current owner, James Altman, the installation chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear defense protection agent on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, who hails from Sebring, Florida. - A United States Military Working Dog Services Award rests on retired military working dog, Patti’s neck after her award ceremony Oct. 24 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. The U.S. War Dogs Association promotes the recognition and honor of military working dogs nationwide and presents awards to handlers and dogs who have remained committed to excellence in their work over the years. Patti received the award for her actions during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Patti served as a combat tracking dog, and though injured in the line of duty, returned to recertification several months of rehabilitation later. Today, she lives happily with her former handler and current owner, James Altman, the installation chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear defense protection agent on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, who hails from Sebring, Florida.

U.S. Marines wait aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard before going ashore after returning from their Fall Patrol of the Asia-Pacific region, Oct. 28, 2016. As the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward deployed unit, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit is prepared to respond to a wide range of military operations, from humanitarian assistance missions to limited combat operations, at a moment’s notice. As a balanced air-ground-logistics team, the 31st MEU is ready to respond throughout the Asia-Pacific region. - U.S. Marines wait aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard before going ashore after returning from their Fall Patrol of the Asia-Pacific region, Oct. 28, 2016. As the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward deployed unit, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit is prepared to respond to a wide range of military operations, from humanitarian assistance missions to limited combat operations, at a moment’s notice. As a balanced air-ground-logistics team, the 31st MEU is ready to respond throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Timothy C. Fretwell, right, the commanding general for III MEF, receives a coin from Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson (left) for being selected as a winner of the Marine Corps wide logistical innovation competition on Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 20, 2016. The competition was designed to implement ideas designed by Marines to increase the capabilities of the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. William Hester) - U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Timothy C. Fretwell, right, the commanding general for III MEF, receives a coin from Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson (left) for being selected as a winner of the Marine Corps wide logistical innovation competition on Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 20, 2016. The competition was designed to implement ideas designed by Marines to increase the capabilities of the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. William Hester)

A Marine with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin stands under the Southern Cross star constellation during Exercise Koolendong 16 at Bradshaw Field Training Area, Northern Territory, Australia, Aug. 16, 2016. Koolendong is a trilateral exercise between the Australian Defence Force, U.S. Marine Corps and French Armed Forces New Caledonia. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sarah Anderson) - A Marine with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin stands under the Southern Cross star constellation during Exercise Koolendong 16 at Bradshaw Field Training Area, Northern Territory, Australia, Aug. 16, 2016. Koolendong is a trilateral exercise between the Australian Defence Force, U.S. Marine Corps and French Armed Forces New Caledonia. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sarah Anderson)

MARINE CORPS TRAINING AREA BELLOWS – Lance Cpl. Justin Rumphrey, a team leader with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and a Loganville, Georgia native, patrols through a simulated village during Exercise Island Viper aboard Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, Sept. 29, 2016. Exercise Island Viper is a 3-week-long battalion level training evolution workup that focuses on sharpening the infantry skills of the individual, team and squad. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Jesus Sepulveda Torres) - MARINE CORPS TRAINING AREA BELLOWS – Lance Cpl. Justin Rumphrey, a team leader with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and a Loganville, Georgia native, patrols through a simulated village during Exercise Island Viper aboard Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, Sept. 29, 2016. Exercise Island Viper is a 3-week-long battalion level training evolution workup that focuses on sharpening the infantry skills of the individual, team and squad. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Jesus Sepulveda Torres)

U.S. Marine Sgt. Brant LaRue, a military police Marine with 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force, fires a practice grenade from a Mossberg 500 shotgun during Non-Lethal Executive Seminar (NOLES) 2016 at Five Hills Training Area, Mongolia, Sept. 20, 2016. Mongolian soldiers and National Police rehearsed for the final portion of the field training exercise for NOLES with a riot control situation. Non-lethal weapons are designed to incapacitate equipment and personnel while minimizing fatalities and permanent injury to personnel, and undesired collateral damage to property. - U.S. Marine Sgt. Brant LaRue, a military police Marine with 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force, fires a practice grenade from a Mossberg 500 shotgun during Non-Lethal Executive Seminar (NOLES) 2016 at Five Hills Training Area, Mongolia, Sept. 20, 2016. Mongolian soldiers and National Police rehearsed for the final portion of the field training exercise for NOLES with a riot control situation. Non-lethal weapons are designed to incapacitate equipment and personnel while minimizing fatalities and permanent injury to personnel, and undesired collateral damage to property.

A local veterans group welcomes home service members with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 166 (Reinforced) aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Sept. 10. VMM-166 (Rein) and other units from 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing returned from a seven-month deployment with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit after conducting operations from the Western Pacific to the Arabian Gulf to include strikes against ISIL targets in Iraq. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alissa Schuning/Released) - A local veterans group welcomes home service members with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 166 (Reinforced) aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Sept. 10. VMM-166 (Rein) and other units from 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing returned from a seven-month deployment with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit after conducting operations from the Western Pacific to the Arabian Gulf to include strikes against ISIL targets in Iraq. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alissa Schuning/Released)