Pacific Marines Stories

The Guam assault by the Third Marine Division and the First Marine Provisional Brigade came July 20, 1944, after a 17-day aerial and naval bombardment which established a record tonnage of explosives dropped on a Japanese position. Opposition on the beaches, as at Saipan, was vigorous and Marines in this wave leap from their amphibious tractor for the shelter of the sand dunes. The Marine advance was steady and the former American possession, captured by the Japanese on December 10, 1941, was completely won by August 9, 1944. - The Guam assault by the Third Marine Division and the First Marine Provisional Brigade came July 20, 1944, after a 17-day aerial and naval bombardment which established a record tonnage of explosives dropped on a Japanese position. Opposition on the beaches, as at Saipan, was vigorous and Marines in this wave leap from their amphibious tractor for the shelter of the sand dunes. The Marine advance was steady and the former American possession, captured by the Japanese on December 10, 1941, was completely won by August 9, 1944.

A Marine with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, treats a simulated casualty at the third station during a squad competition, here, May 23. MRF-D Marines ran approximately 4.5 miles, stopping only to complete different training exercises at four locations. - A Marine with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, treats a simulated casualty at the third station during a squad competition, here, May 23. MRF-D Marines ran approximately 4.5 miles, stopping only to complete different training exercises at four locations.

Chief Hospital Corpsman Joseph Santos, the 2012 Pacific Fleet Sailor of the Year, has his anchors pinned on by his family during the 2012 Sailor of the Year Pinning Ceremony. Santos and three other 2012 Sailors of the Year were meritoriously promoted to chief petty officer during the ceremony by Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mark E. Ferguson. - Chief Hospital Corpsman Joseph Santos, the 2012 Pacific Fleet Sailor of the Year, has his anchors pinned on by his family during the 2012 Sailor of the Year Pinning Ceremony. Santos and three other 2012 Sailors of the Year were meritoriously promoted to chief petty officer during the ceremony by Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mark E. Ferguson.

A team of Marines from Force Reconnaissance Company, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, stationed in Okinawa, Japan, and currently attached to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, make their way toward the USS Arizona Memorial here April 27 before they dive the site. The Marines are currently on Oahu conducting sustainment training such as diving, jumps, marksmanship training and visit, board, search and seizure training. - A team of Marines from Force Reconnaissance Company, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, stationed in Okinawa, Japan, and currently attached to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, make their way toward the USS Arizona Memorial here April 27 before they dive the site. The Marines are currently on Oahu conducting sustainment training such as diving, jumps, marksmanship training and visit, board, search and seizure training.

A Marine color guard from 3rd Marine Regiment carries the Australian and New Zealand Colors at the ANZAC Day ceremony here April 25. Every year, the Australian Consulate and New Zealand Embassy join with U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, to host a commemoration ceremony. - A Marine color guard from 3rd Marine Regiment carries the Australian and New Zealand Colors at the ANZAC Day ceremony here April 25. Every year, the Australian Consulate and New Zealand Embassy join with U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, to host a commemoration ceremony.

Local residents gather at an outdoor communal beach shelter April 12 for the last in a series of public scoping meetings. The meetings are part of an ongoing outreach effort with local residents to gather their comments and concerns regarding a proposal to develop live-fire ranges and training areas on Tinian and Pagan islands in CNMI. - Local residents gather at an outdoor communal beach shelter April 12 for the last in a series of public scoping meetings. The meetings are part of an ongoing outreach effort with local residents to gather their comments and concerns regarding a proposal to develop live-fire ranges and training areas on Tinian and Pagan islands in CNMI.

Explosive ordnance technicians with the Philippine Air Force utilize pieces of equipment from the Marine Corps hook and line system to lift an ammunition can from the ground at Clark Field, Philippines, April 10. Filipino and U.S. Marine Corps EOD technicians trained together during exercise Balikatan 2013, an annual bilateral exercise in its 29th iteration that is aimed at ensuring interoperability of the Philippine and U.S. militaries during planning, contingency and humanitarian assistance operations. - Explosive ordnance technicians with the Philippine Air Force utilize pieces of equipment from the Marine Corps hook and line system to lift an ammunition can from the ground at Clark Field, Philippines, April 10. Filipino and U.S. Marine Corps EOD technicians trained together during exercise Balikatan 2013, an annual bilateral exercise in its 29th iteration that is aimed at ensuring interoperability of the Philippine and U.S. militaries during planning, contingency and humanitarian assistance operations.

From left to right: Philippine Marine Cpl. Milky Espere and Cpl. Raymond Almonte, with the Philippine Transportation and Maintenance, observe U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Adrian Sandoval, with Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, as he demonstrates how to disassemble a M240 machine gun April 5 during a bilateral subject matter expert exchange at a field training exercise in support of Balikatan 2013 at Camp O'Donnell, Philippines. BK13 is an annual bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. forces to enhance interoperability, improve military-to-military relations, and refine combined and joint-force planning in response to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. - From left to right: Philippine Marine Cpl. Milky Espere and Cpl. Raymond Almonte, with the Philippine Transportation and Maintenance, observe U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Adrian Sandoval, with Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, as he demonstrates how to disassemble a M240 machine gun April 5 during a bilateral subject matter expert exchange at a field training exercise in support of Balikatan 2013 at Camp O'Donnell, Philippines. BK13 is an annual bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. forces to enhance interoperability, improve military-to-military relations, and refine combined and joint-force planning in response to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.