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AR RAMADI Iraq (June 13, 2005) - Sergeant Tim R. Cyparski, a rifleman and the section leader for 1st Section, 1st Mobile Assault Platoon, Company W, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, leads the way down a flight of stairs after searching the second floor of a house here with his comrade, Sgt. Michael A. Burgess, a 28-year-old assault man from Willoughby, Ohio. Insurgents attacked 27-year-old Cyparski from Erie, Pa., and his fellow warriors with an improvised explosive device during a presence patrol they executed in the southern portion of the city. No one was hurt and no vehicles were damaged. Photo by: Cpl. Tom Sloan - AR RAMADI Iraq (June 13, 2005) - Sergeant Tim R. Cyparski, a rifleman and the section leader for 1st Section, 1st Mobile Assault Platoon, Company W, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, leads the way down a flight of stairs after searching the second floor of a house here with his comrade, Sgt. Michael A. Burgess, a 28-year-old assault man from Willoughby, Ohio. Insurgents attacked 27-year-old Cyparski from Erie, Pa., and his fellow warriors with an improvised explosive device during a presence patrol they executed in the southern portion of the city. No one was hurt and no vehicles were damaged. Photo by: Cpl. Tom Sloan

1/5’s Weapons Marines encounter IED during mission

The ground trembled from the discharge of an improvised explosive device, the loud boom echoed throughout a neighborhood here where a group of Marines were conducting a mission. The blast set Sgt. Tim R. Cyparski and his team in motion, and they went on the hunt for the perpetrators. Insurgents attacked Marines with 1st Mobile Assault Platoon,

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FALLUJAH, Iraq - Lance Cpl. Jason Murray, a team leader with 2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon, Company A, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, strings concertina wire through an engineer stake here June 13 while teaching Iraqi soldiers basic engineering skills. The 22-year-old Pursley, Texas native worked alongside fellow engineers to show the soldiers how to string various types of wires, board up windows and fortify defensive positions. - FALLUJAH, Iraq - Lance Cpl. Jason Murray, a team leader with 2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon, Company A, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, strings concertina wire through an engineer stake here June 13 while teaching Iraqi soldiers basic engineering skills. The 22-year-old Pursley, Texas native worked alongside fellow engineers to show the soldiers how to string various types of wires, board up windows and fortify defensive positions.

Texas Marine engineer, team help strengthen Iraqi army

The distinct clanking of sledge hammers pounding against metal reverberated through the silent, windy afternoon of June 13. An Iraqi soldier hammered a stake into the ground outside Fallujah’s ruined train station. Alongside him, his companions wore large, yellow gloves as they stretched out spools of barbed wire and threaded it through the

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CAMP BAHARIA, Iraq - Lance Cpl. Mario A. Castillo's gear display rests near the water's edge here June 12 before the memorial service. The 20-year-old Brownwood, Texas served as a combat engineer with 2nd Platoon, Company A, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, currently supporting 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment counter-insurgency operations in Fallujah, and passed away June 10 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. - CAMP BAHARIA, Iraq - Lance Cpl. Mario A. Castillo's gear display rests near the water's edge here June 12 before the memorial service. The 20-year-old Brownwood, Texas served as a combat engineer with 2nd Platoon, Company A, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, currently supporting 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment counter-insurgency operations in Fallujah, and passed away June 10 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

1/6 brothers-in-arms commemorate selfless, ‘Happy’ brother

The lake’s still waters and the quiet ambience of the early evening hours of June 12 seemed to contrast with the remembrance of a fallen warriors’ bright nature. As the sun’s light graced the Iraqi skies for a few last hours that day, Marines and sailors from 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment and 2nd Platoon, Company A, 2nd Combat Engineer

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CAMP BAHARIA, Iraq - Lance Cpl. Andrew J. Kilpela's gear display rests near the water's edge here June 12 before the memorial service. The 22-year-old Livingston, Mich. served as a combat engineer with 2nd Platoon, Company A, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, currently supporting 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment counter-insurgency operations in Fallujah, and passed away June 10 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. - CAMP BAHARIA, Iraq - Lance Cpl. Andrew J. Kilpela's gear display rests near the water's edge here June 12 before the memorial service. The 22-year-old Livingston, Mich. served as a combat engineer with 2nd Platoon, Company A, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, currently supporting 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment counter-insurgency operations in Fallujah, and passed away June 10 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

1/6 brothers-in-arms commemorate friend, fellow engineer

Despite his 130-pound body, fellow engineers will always remember Lance Cpl. Andrew Kilpela as one of the biggest and best guys they knew. Maybe it was his larger-than-life enthusiasm for his work. Or perhaps it was his giant sense of humor. For these reasons, the Marines of 2nd Platoon, Company A, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, and

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CAMP HURRICANE POINT Ar Ramadi, Iraq (June 11, 2005) - Private First Class Travis T. Fitzpatrick, a machine gunner with 2nd Section, 5th Mobile Assault Platoon, Company W, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, sits in the turret of a Humvee here after having returned from a mission in the city. The 21-year-old from Susanville, Calif., was in this same position earlier during the operation and was shot at by an enemy sniper. The round hit the shield in front of the 2001 Lassen High School graduate and left a ringing in his ears. Photo by: Cpl. Tom Sloan - CAMP HURRICANE POINT Ar Ramadi, Iraq (June 11, 2005) - Private First Class Travis T. Fitzpatrick, a machine gunner with 2nd Section, 5th Mobile Assault Platoon, Company W, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, sits in the turret of a Humvee here after having returned from a mission in the city. The 21-year-old from Susanville, Calif., was in this same position earlier during the operation and was shot at by an enemy sniper. The round hit the shield in front of the 2001 Lassen High School graduate and left a ringing in his ears. Photo by: Cpl. Tom Sloan

Enemy contact customary for Weapons 1/5

A young Susanville Marine currently serving in Iraq with Company W, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, was attacked with small arms fire and an roadside bomb while his unit conducted a mission here June 11. The company’s 5th Mobile Assault Platoon received a lone shot midway through a presence patrol they conducted through neighborhoods in the

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CAMP DELTA, Iraq -- Taking a knee to determine their location, Cpl. Adam Miller, 3rd Squad Leader, 2nd Platoon, Company I, looks at his global positioning system and calls in their position report. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Athanasios L. Genos - CAMP DELTA, Iraq -- Taking a knee to determine their location, Cpl. Adam Miller, 3rd Squad Leader, 2nd Platoon, Company I, looks at his global positioning system and calls in their position report. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Athanasios L. Genos

Company I sticks to basics, counters enemy attacks

Cpl. Adam J. Miller, a squad leader with 2nd Platoon, led his men and Iraqi Security Forces soldiers on a routine patrol through the sand and dirt near Al Karmah as the sun peaked over the horizon. Even though the Marines from Company I, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, were on a routine patrol, any manner of dangers could arise. According to

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ASRAGIYAH, Iraq - Pfc. Wilson Quizhpi, an infantryman with 4th Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, and fellow Marines patrol through farm fields here June 2 during 'Operation Hard Knock.' Company C personnel worked alongside Iraqi soldiers to sweep through the farming community outside Fallujah and confiscate several AK-47 assault rifles. - ASRAGIYAH, Iraq - Pfc. Wilson Quizhpi, an infantryman with 4th Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, and fellow Marines patrol through farm fields here June 2 during 'Operation Hard Knock.' Company C personnel worked alongside Iraqi soldiers to sweep through the farming community outside Fallujah and confiscate several AK-47 assault rifles.

Great Barrington, Mass., Marine works to counter insurgency in Iraq

When Pfc. William Quizhpi left his beloved farm in Shushufindi, Ecuador, as a teenager for a new life in Great Barrington, Mass., he never expected to feel so close to home, so far away, five years later in Iraq. “I like the people and the land here, because they remind me of being back home,” explained the 21-year-old infantryman with the Marine

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CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq -- Sergeant Keith Palka, a 23-year-old Thomaston, Me. native and data plans chief for the division's communications data section works on the division's network servers. He and the warrant officer who he works with are the only two Marines in the entire division who control the planning of the wide area computer network across the division's area of responsibility. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Stephen D'Alessio (RELEASED) - CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq -- Sergeant Keith Palka, a 23-year-old Thomaston, Me. native and data plans chief for the division's communications data section works on the division's network servers. He and the warrant officer who he works with are the only two Marines in the entire division who control the planning of the wide area computer network across the division's area of responsibility. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Stephen D'Alessio (RELEASED)

Maine Marine makes connections

The 2nd Marine Division uses the information highway to coordinate and track operations in the Al Anbar Province, a vast desert area about the size of North Carolina. But none of it could be done without a plan; and that’s where Sgt. Keith Palka steps into action. Palka, a 23-year-old Thomaston, Maine, native is the data plans chief for the

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CAMP BAHARIA, Iraq - Petty Officer 2nd Class Colin Gardape serves as 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment's religious program specialist, performing duties as the unit chaplain's bodyguard and administrative assistant. The 23-year-old Cranberry Township, Penn. native is currently deployed to Iraq's Al-Anbar province, where he assists the chaplain in taking care of the Marines' and sailors' spiritual welfare. - CAMP BAHARIA, Iraq - Petty Officer 2nd Class Colin Gardape serves as 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment's religious program specialist, performing duties as the unit chaplain's bodyguard and administrative assistant. The 23-year-old Cranberry Township, Penn. native is currently deployed to Iraq's Al-Anbar province, where he assists the chaplain in taking care of the Marines' and sailors' spiritual welfare.