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AR RAMADI, Iraq (April 8, 2005) - Lance Cpl. Micheal D. O'Rielly, a 22-year-old rifleman with 1st Squad, 4th Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, looks to his left down a street in the marketplace here for someone who might have just detonated the improvised explosive device a block away. The deafening blast sent a mushroom cloud of smoke into the air. Another IED went off in the area minutes later. No one was hurt. Marines with 4th Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines patrolled the marketplace in an effort to familiarize themselves with their area of operations and determine how the local Iraqis feel about their presence in the area. The Marines also handed out positive and anti-insurgent propaganda to the Iraqis and searched for insurgents and things out of the ordinary during the two-hour operation. Photo by Cpl. Tom Sloan - AR RAMADI, Iraq (April 8, 2005) - Lance Cpl. Micheal D. O'Rielly, a 22-year-old rifleman with 1st Squad, 4th Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, looks to his left down a street in the marketplace here for someone who might have just detonated the improvised explosive device a block away. The deafening blast sent a mushroom cloud of smoke into the air. Another IED went off in the area minutes later. No one was hurt. Marines with 4th Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines patrolled the marketplace in an effort to familiarize themselves with their area of operations and determine how the local Iraqis feel about their presence in the area. The Marines also handed out positive and anti-insurgent propaganda to the Iraqis and searched for insurgents and things out of the ordinary during the two-hour operation. Photo by Cpl. Tom Sloan

1/5’s Alpha encounters IED at markets

Two improvised explosive devices detonated close to the city’s market place here Friday evening while Marines where conducting a patrol there. No one was injured from the blasts.“It got a bit shaky when the two IEDs hit,” said Sgt. Brian S. Foster, a squad leader with 4th Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, at the patrol’s end. “The

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FALLUJAH, Iraq - Navy Chief Petty Officer Nathan Whiddon, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment's medical chief, administers shots to a Marine from Company B, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment at the company's base of operations here April 8. Personnel from the Battalion's Aid Station travel as part of the 'XO's Road Show,' a Headquarters and Service Company convoy that travels once a week to the battalion's infantry companies' bases in Fallujah to offer the grunts services such as motor transport and communications equipment repair, religious services, and administrative and legal support. - FALLUJAH, Iraq - Navy Chief Petty Officer Nathan Whiddon, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment's medical chief, administers shots to a Marine from Company B, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment at the company's base of operations here April 8. Personnel from the Battalion's Aid Station travel as part of the 'XO's Road Show,' a Headquarters and Service Company convoy that travels once a week to the battalion's infantry companies' bases in Fallujah to offer the grunts services such as motor transport and communications equipment repair, religious services, and administrative and legal support.

Charlie 1/6 corpsmen spring to action, tend to Iraqi soldier

“I hold the care of the sick and injured to be a privilege and a sacred trust. I dedicate my heart, mind, and strength to the work before me.”These words from the oath every Navy corpsman swears to uphold, defy all boundaries of age, gender and ethnicity. They deny care to no victim, regardless of what uniform they wear.Such was the case here April

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3/4 completes third successful joint operation

As dawn broke over the southern half of Fallujah, the usual sight of moving cars and rushing people was replaced by tanks, concertina wire, Iraqi soldiers and Marines.In the early hours of April 7, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment kicked off Operation Block Party here.More than 100 Marines, side-by-side with three companies of Iraqi soldiers,

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CAMP FALLUJAH, IRAQ -- Lance Cpl. Chuck W. Mikitin, an infantryman with Company K, 3d Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, takes cover beside a building while checking out the area ahead of him for any possible threats. Mikitin and his fellow Marines in his squad patrol regularly through the village and market places of Nasser Wa Salaam. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Athanasios L. Genos - CAMP FALLUJAH, IRAQ -- Lance Cpl. Chuck W. Mikitin, an infantryman with Company K, 3d Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, takes cover beside a building while checking out the area ahead of him for any possible threats. Mikitin and his fellow Marines in his squad patrol regularly through the village and market places of Nasser Wa Salaam. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Athanasios L. Genos

K Company fights off insurgents at Abu Ghraib

It was 7 p.m. and the Camden, N.Y., native was in his barracks room, located inside the Abu Ghraib prison getting a haircut when the attack began. Lance Cpl. Chuck W. Mikitin, an infantryman with K Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, put his training into action. Donning his gear, Mikitin and the rest of 1st squad made their way to their

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FALLUJAH, Iraq - A Marine with Company A, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment aims his rifle as he prepares to bust into a house here in search of insurgent activity. The unit worked hand-in-hand with Iraqi Security Forces to apprehend one suspect and disrupt insurgent planning cell activity. - FALLUJAH, Iraq - A Marine with Company A, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment aims his rifle as he prepares to bust into a house here in search of insurgent activity. The unit worked hand-in-hand with Iraqi Security Forces to apprehend one suspect and disrupt insurgent planning cell activity.

Company A, ISF work hand-in-hand patrolling Fallujah

The sun drops toward the horizon as the solemn Muslim Call to Prayer pierces through the city’s traffic noise. A group of children playing soccer in a barren dirt field stop dead in their tracks, not to pray, but to stare at the two columns of armored troops coming their way. The kids’ wonder soon turns into playfulness; the oldest one rolls a

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FALLUJAH, Iraq - A Marine with Company A, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment aims his rifle as he prepares to bust into a house here in search of insurgent activity. The unit worked hand-in-hand with Iraqi Security Forces to apprehend one suspect and disrupt insurgent planning cell activity. - FALLUJAH, Iraq - A Marine with Company A, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment aims his rifle as he prepares to bust into a house here in search of insurgent activity. The unit worked hand-in-hand with Iraqi Security Forces to apprehend one suspect and disrupt insurgent planning cell activity.

ISF and Alpha 1/6 gives insurgency rude awakening

Insurgents here had better make room at the breakfast table for a few uninvited guests, because you never know when someone might stop by.Such was the case during the pre-dawn hours April 6 when Iraqi Security Forces and Marines of Company A, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment performed a cordon and knock operation on a suspected insurgent

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CAMP HURRICANE POINT, Ar Ramadi, Iraq (April 5, 2005) - Major Benjamin B. Busch, Sgt. David J. Oconnell, Cpl. Travis E. Box and Pfc. Andrew J. Juraska stand at attention in formation while 2nd Lt. Eldon Beck, legal officer and adjutant, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, reads their Purple Heart award citation. The four warriors with 1st Battalion, 5th Marines were awarded Purple Hearts at a ceremony in the conference room here for wounds they received while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom during their first month in Iraq. The four join the ranks of many servicemembers who've have received the U.S. military's oldest medal, which was first awarded in 1782. Photo by Cpl. Tom Sloan - CAMP HURRICANE POINT, Ar Ramadi, Iraq (April 5, 2005) - Major Benjamin B. Busch, Sgt. David J. Oconnell, Cpl. Travis E. Box and Pfc. Andrew J. Juraska stand at attention in formation while 2nd Lt. Eldon Beck, legal officer and adjutant, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, reads their Purple Heart award citation. The four warriors with 1st Battalion, 5th Marines were awarded Purple Hearts at a ceremony in the conference room here for wounds they received while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom during their first month in Iraq. The four join the ranks of many servicemembers who've have received the U.S. military's oldest medal, which was first awarded in 1782. Photo by Cpl. Tom Sloan

1/5 Marines receive Purple Hearts

Four warriors with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment were awarded Purple Hearts at a ceremony here April 5. The infantry battalion’s commander, Lt. Col. Eric M. Smith, presented the prestigious medal to Maj. Benjamin B. Busch, Sgt. David J. Oconnell, Cpl. Travis E. Box and Pfc. Andrew J. Juraska for wounds received while supporting Operation Iraqi

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AL QA'IM, Iraq (April 2, 2005)- Greenwood, Miss., natives (left to right) Lance Cpls. Ralph Smith and Gresham H. Gregg, Staff Sgt. Rodriguez Moore and Lance Cpl. Arthur L. Ware never knew each other back home, but the four Marines ended up deploying to Iraq with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment. Ware and Gregg graduated from Greenwood High School. Moore graduated from S.V. Marshall High School. Smith attended W.P. Daniel High School. Once deployed to Iraq, Ware and Moore discover that they are distant cousins. Smith's mother taught Ware Spanish in high school. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel (RELEASED) - AL QA'IM, Iraq (April 2, 2005)- Greenwood, Miss., natives (left to right) Lance Cpls. Ralph Smith and Gresham H. Gregg, Staff Sgt. Rodriguez Moore and Lance Cpl. Arthur L. Ware never knew each other back home, but the four Marines ended up deploying to Iraq with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment. Ware and Gregg graduated from Greenwood High School. Moore graduated from S.V. Marshall High School. Smith attended W.P. Daniel High School. Once deployed to Iraq, Ware and Moore discover that they are distant cousins. Smith's mother taught Ware Spanish in high school. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel (RELEASED)

Small World for four Greenwood, Miss., natives

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the city of Greenwood, Miss., has a population of approximately 18,425. So what are the odds of four Marines from this Mississippi town ending up in the same unit deployed to the rural deserts of western Iraq? The chances are greater than you think. Staff Sgt. Rodriguez Moore and Lance Cpl.s Ralph Smith, Gresham

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CAMP AL QA'IM, Iraq (April 1, 2005)- Cpl. Richard C. Marshall, the 1st squad leader with 1st Platoon, Company K, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment leads his squad in rehearsals for the raid that took place in Sedah April 4. The Marines of Kilo Co. took seven detainees during the raid including their main target, who was a known exposives expert. Marshall, a native of Denver, considered the mission to be a complete success. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel (RELEASED) - CAMP AL QA'IM, Iraq (April 1, 2005)- Cpl. Richard C. Marshall, the 1st squad leader with 1st Platoon, Company K, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment leads his squad in rehearsals for the raid that took place in Sedah April 4. The Marines of Kilo Co. took seven detainees during the raid including their main target, who was a known exposives expert. Marshall, a native of Denver, considered the mission to be a complete success. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel (RELEASED)