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Corporal Christian Brown a former squad leader with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, looks onto his supporters during the Cost of Freedom Poker Run in New Bern, N.C. Aug. 24, 2013. “This event is (for) Christian Brown, to help him achieve his goals, his life aspirations, his new home and to get it the way he wants it and the way he needs it,” said Sgt. Maj. Larry J. Harrington, the Motor Transport Squadron 1 sergeant major aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. The poker run consisted of motorcycle riders traveling to five checkpoints. At each location the riders received a playing card, and whoever had the highest poker hand at the end of the route won. Brown, who lost both of his legs while serving as a squad leader with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment during Operation Enduring Freedom, was awarded the Silver Star Medal May 3, 2013. - Corporal Christian Brown a former squad leader with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, looks onto his supporters during the Cost of Freedom Poker Run in New Bern, N.C. Aug. 24, 2013. “This event is (for) Christian Brown, to help him achieve his goals, his life aspirations, his new home and to get it the way he wants it and the way he needs it,” said Sgt. Maj. Larry J. Harrington, the Motor Transport Squadron 1 sergeant major aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. The poker run consisted of motorcycle riders traveling to five checkpoints. At each location the riders received a playing card, and whoever had the highest poker hand at the end of the route won. Brown, who lost both of his legs while serving as a squad leader with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment during Operation Enduring Freedom, was awarded the Silver Star Medal May 3, 2013.

Lieutenant Col. Carl E. Cooper, the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment commanding officer, and Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey G. Monssen, the battalion's sergeant major, prepare to case the battalion colors Aug. 13, 2013 during the battalion's deactivation ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. "The sergeant major and I were proud to do it," said Cooper. "There will be a time when the battalion is established again and we will have to unfurl those colors." This ceremony marked the fifth time the battalion has been deactivated since its origination in 1917. - Lieutenant Col. Carl E. Cooper, the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment commanding officer, and Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey G. Monssen, the battalion's sergeant major, prepare to case the battalion colors Aug. 13, 2013 during the battalion's deactivation ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. "The sergeant major and I were proud to do it," said Cooper. "There will be a time when the battalion is established again and we will have to unfurl those colors." This ceremony marked the fifth time the battalion has been deactivated since its origination in 1917.

Cpl. Ryan Carroll, an antitank missileman with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, stands with his fellow firefighters in front of a beam that was recovered from the ruins of the World Trade Center at Station No. 23, Providence Volunteer Fire Company, Towson, Md., Aug. 5, 2013. - Cpl. Ryan Carroll, an antitank missileman with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, stands with his fellow firefighters in front of a beam that was recovered from the ruins of the World Trade Center at Station No. 23, Providence Volunteer Fire Company, Towson, Md., Aug. 5, 2013.

Marines with Bravo Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, begin firing a gun on a light armored vehicle 25A2, as part of a gunner exercise at Shooting Range 7, August 5, 2013. The exercise consists of five different courses of fire including still and moving fire. - Marines with Bravo Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, begin firing a gun on a light armored vehicle 25A2, as part of a gunner exercise at Shooting Range 7, August 5, 2013. The exercise consists of five different courses of fire including still and moving fire.

Marines with Assault Company, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, make final preparations to an assault breacher vehicle during an amphibious operation training exercise July 24, 2013, aboard the USS Wasp. "With the ABVs we will simulate clearing a mine field, filling in a tank ditch which will be a few meters deep and plowing down berms in order to pave the way to combat town for the infantry unit," said Lance Cpl. David R. Jones, a combat engineer with Mobile Assault Company. - Marines with Assault Company, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, make final preparations to an assault breacher vehicle during an amphibious operation training exercise July 24, 2013, aboard the USS Wasp. "With the ABVs we will simulate clearing a mine field, filling in a tank ditch which will be a few meters deep and plowing down berms in order to pave the way to combat town for the infantry unit," said Lance Cpl. David R. Jones, a combat engineer with Mobile Assault Company.

Marines with 10th Marine Regiment prepare to fire a howitzer as part of their fire support coordination exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, July 22-24, 2013. The FSCEX brought together 10th Marine Regiment and members of the Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company to practice fire missions. - Marines with 10th Marine Regiment prepare to fire a howitzer as part of their fire support coordination exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, July 22-24, 2013. The FSCEX brought together 10th Marine Regiment and members of the Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company to practice fire missions.

Corporal Andrew Y. Zheng, a saxophone player with the 2nd Marine Division Band and St. Louis native, dedicates his free time by picking up trash along New Bern Hwy., July 20, 2013. Zheng also gets a group together to perform music for different functions as another way to give back to the community. - Corporal Andrew Y. Zheng, a saxophone player with the 2nd Marine Division Band and St. Louis native, dedicates his free time by picking up trash along New Bern Hwy., July 20, 2013. Zheng also gets a group together to perform music for different functions as another way to give back to the community.

Petty Officer Lynn Chaplin, a Corpsman with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, further explains to Marines with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 4th Combat Engineer Battalion and 8th Engineer Support Battalion, the importance of all of the information involving evacuating casualties during their communication class at Engineer Training Areas 9 and 10, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., July 17, 2013. This is just one of the many classes that the Marines will take before doing practical application exercises during their two-week training event. - Petty Officer Lynn Chaplin, a Corpsman with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, further explains to Marines with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 4th Combat Engineer Battalion and 8th Engineer Support Battalion, the importance of all of the information involving evacuating casualties during their communication class at Engineer Training Areas 9 and 10, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., July 17, 2013. This is just one of the many classes that the Marines will take before doing practical application exercises during their two-week training event.

Navy Capt. Floyd G. Campen laughs as one of his shipmates tells an old story about him during his retirement ceremony July 13, 2013 aboard Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Va. "For me I can hardly imagine the Navy without you," said retired Rear Adm. Lewis L. Libby. - Navy Capt. Floyd G. Campen laughs as one of his shipmates tells an old story about him during his retirement ceremony July 13, 2013 aboard Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Va. "For me I can hardly imagine the Navy without you," said retired Rear Adm. Lewis L. Libby.