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CAMP AL QAIM, Iraq (March 13, 2005)- Lance Cpl. Lesley T. Raulerson, an infantryman with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment reads the Holy Bible before Sunday services in Iraq. The Jacksonville, Fla., native graduated from Mandarin High School in 2002 and joined the Marine Corps to make a sacrifice for other people. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel (RELEASED) - CAMP AL QAIM, Iraq (March 13, 2005)- Lance Cpl. Lesley T. Raulerson, an infantryman with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment reads the Holy Bible before Sunday services in Iraq. The Jacksonville, Fla., native graduated from Mandarin High School in 2002 and joined the Marine Corps to make a sacrifice for other people. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel (RELEASED)

CAMP AL QAIM, Iraq (March 14, 2005)- Sgt. Jose Jimenez (left), 25, a crew chief with 2d Amphibious Assault Battalion and his team, Lance Cpl. Dustin Gonzalez and Sgt. Caleb Hall have been deployed to Iraq since Sept. 13, 2004. The Jacksonville, N.C., native and his platoon were in Fallujah for five months of their deployment before returning to western Iraq, where they've conducted missions in Husaybah. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel (RELEASED) - CAMP AL QAIM, Iraq (March 14, 2005)- Sgt. Jose Jimenez (left), 25, a crew chief with 2d Amphibious Assault Battalion and his team, Lance Cpl. Dustin Gonzalez and Sgt. Caleb Hall have been deployed to Iraq since Sept. 13, 2004. The Jacksonville, N.C., native and his platoon were in Fallujah for five months of their deployment before returning to western Iraq, where they've conducted missions in Husaybah. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel (RELEASED)

CAMP AL QA'IM, Iraq (March 17, 2005)- Lance Cpl. Bryan A. Crane, a native of Billings, Mont., hands a package off to a fellow Marine. The mail clerk with 3rd Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment handles all the mail that comes to the battalion. Crane graduated from Derby High School in 2002. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel (RELEASED) - CAMP AL QA'IM, Iraq (March 17, 2005)- Lance Cpl. Bryan A. Crane, a native of Billings, Mont., hands a package off to a fellow Marine. The mail clerk with 3rd Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment handles all the mail that comes to the battalion. Crane graduated from Derby High School in 2002. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel (RELEASED)

CAMP AL QA'IM, Iraq (March 18, 2005)- Sgt. Clive S. Chinatomby, 29, a squad leader with the security platoon of 3rd Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment listens to Lt. John Anderson, the battalion chaplain before a convoy here. The Queens, N.Y., native was in the rear vehicle of the convoy, which was responsible for rear security. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel (RELEASED) - CAMP AL QA'IM, Iraq (March 18, 2005)- Sgt. Clive S. Chinatomby, 29, a squad leader with the security platoon of 3rd Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment listens to Lt. John Anderson, the battalion chaplain before a convoy here. The Queens, N.Y., native was in the rear vehicle of the convoy, which was responsible for rear security. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel (RELEASED)

CAMP AL QA'IM, Iraq (March 21, 2005)- Lance Cpl. Gresham H. Gregg, 27, a gun truck driver with security platoon, 3rd Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment shows Pfc. Steven C. Dickinson, a native of Brunswick County, Va., a mine cover used to disguise a mine outside the base. The Greenwood, Miss., native was involved in sweeping a route for 2d Force Recconassince when they found four mines about 800 meters off base. This is the 1996 Greenwood High School graduates first deployment to Iraq. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel (RELEASED) - CAMP AL QA'IM, Iraq (March 21, 2005)- Lance Cpl. Gresham H. Gregg, 27, a gun truck driver with security platoon, 3rd Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment shows Pfc. Steven C. Dickinson, a native of Brunswick County, Va., a mine cover used to disguise a mine outside the base. The Greenwood, Miss., native was involved in sweeping a route for 2d Force Recconassince when they found four mines about 800 meters off base. This is the 1996 Greenwood High School graduates first deployment to Iraq. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel (RELEASED)

CAMP AL QA'IM, Iraq (March 22, 2005)- Marines with the security platoon of 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment pray for their fallen brother Lance Cpl. Kevin Smith who was killed in action by a vehicle borne improvised explosive device March 21. The Memorial ceremony took place here March 22. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel (RELEASED) - CAMP AL QA'IM, Iraq (March 22, 2005)- Marines with the security platoon of 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment pray for their fallen brother Lance Cpl. Kevin Smith who was killed in action by a vehicle borne improvised explosive device March 21. The Memorial ceremony took place here March 22. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel (RELEASED)

CAMP AL QA'IM, Iraq (March 23, 2005)- Cpl. James D. Fay, 21, a nuclear, biological and chemical defense specialist with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment assembles a gas mask here. This is the South Hadley, Mass., native's first deployment to Iraq. As a watch clerk in the combat operations center, Fay is responsible for keeping track of all information that comes into the C.O.C. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel (RELEASED) - CAMP AL QA'IM, Iraq (March 23, 2005)- Cpl. James D. Fay, 21, a nuclear, biological and chemical defense specialist with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment assembles a gas mask here. This is the South Hadley, Mass., native's first deployment to Iraq. As a watch clerk in the combat operations center, Fay is responsible for keeping track of all information that comes into the C.O.C. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel (RELEASED)

CAMP AL QA'IM, Iraq (March 25, 2005)- Lance Cpl. Derek B. Wright, an armorer with Comapny K, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment attaches a visiable light indicator to an M1014 12-gauge shotgun here. The Medina, Ohio, native has deployed to Africa and Iraq once before as a mortarman. While deployed to Africa, the 2002 Highland High School graduate was assigned to be the company armorer, but Wright continues to take part in missions here. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel (RELEASED) - CAMP AL QA'IM, Iraq (March 25, 2005)- Lance Cpl. Derek B. Wright, an armorer with Comapny K, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment attaches a visiable light indicator to an M1014 12-gauge shotgun here. The Medina, Ohio, native has deployed to Africa and Iraq once before as a mortarman. While deployed to Africa, the 2002 Highland High School graduate was assigned to be the company armorer, but Wright continues to take part in missions here. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel (RELEASED)

CAMP HURRICANE POINT Ar Ramadi, Iraq (May 1, 2005) - With his right hand raised, Master Sgt. Roland Salinas, the operations chief with Head Quarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, swears to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America while being promoted to the rank of master gunnery sergeant by his commanding officer, Lt. Col. Eric M. Smith, during a ceremony here. The 42-year-old from San Antonio, Texas, reached the final rung on the Marine Corps' ladder of success for enlisted personnel after serving more than 24 years. Salinas reenlisted in Iraq and has three years left on his twilight contract. Photo by Cpl. Tom Sloan - CAMP HURRICANE POINT Ar Ramadi, Iraq (May 1, 2005) - With his right hand raised, Master Sgt. Roland Salinas, the operations chief with Head Quarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, swears to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America while being promoted to the rank of master gunnery sergeant by his commanding officer, Lt. Col. Eric M. Smith, during a ceremony here. The 42-year-old from San Antonio, Texas, reached the final rung on the Marine Corps' ladder of success for enlisted personnel after serving more than 24 years. Salinas reenlisted in Iraq and has three years left on his twilight contract. Photo by Cpl. Tom Sloan

FALLUJAH, Iraq - An Iraqi soldier crouches inside his truck and prepares to begin offloading blackboards here May 2. Iraqi Security Forces and Marine forces here visited local schools to distribute blackboards, school desks, and writing supplies as part of the ongoing joint civil-military mission, "Operation Blackboard." - FALLUJAH, Iraq - An Iraqi soldier crouches inside his truck and prepares to begin offloading blackboards here May 2. Iraqi Security Forces and Marine forces here visited local schools to distribute blackboards, school desks, and writing supplies as part of the ongoing joint civil-military mission, "Operation Blackboard."