The United States Marine Corps

[santana]

Those pacific pics are amazing, and the Vietnam pictures, what can I said!!!

[vor033]

The 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade Reactivation Ceremony at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Oct. 2. The 1st MEB officially stood-up today in preparation for its scheduled 12-month deployment in the spring of 2010 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. During the upcoming deployment, the Marines and sailors of the 1st MEB will be conducting counterinsurgency operations and training Afghan national security forces.

[vor033]

Mount Suribachi on the volcanic Island of Iwo Jima.

This Anti Aircraft gun lies outside the remains of a Japanese bunker built in preparation of the invading American forces. This weapon was designed to shoot down aircraft however, it was not uncommon for the defending Japanese forces to use them on personnel and their vehicles. There's hardware like this all over the Island.


Bunkers defending the Island were connected by a network of caves. Original plans called for 17 miles of underground tunnels to link the island's defenses together. By the time the Marines landed on Iwo Jima, more than 11 miles of tunnels had been completed.

A heavy machine gun, possibly a Japanese Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun, lies abandoned in a bunker overlooking the landing beaches. There are still dozens of these bunkers all over the island. Most of them were destroyed during the battle. This pillbox still bore the scars of the fighting. It was pockmarked with bullet holes and the inside was blackened. I imagine a flame thrower was used to clear that pillbox.


The sand on Iwo Jima is so loose, you sink 4-6 inches into it while walking. It's very difficult to go long distances as it requires so much more effort.



Futatsune Beach, today known by visiting Marines as Invasion Beach, is where on 19 February,1945, the Marines landed on D-Day of the invasion of Iwo JIma. This picture was taken from near the top of Mt. Suribachi.


This monument was erected on the spot where Franklin Sousley, Harlon Block, Michael Strank, John Bradley, Rene Gagnon, and Ira Hayes raised the American flag 4 days into the battle for Iwo Jima. Iwo Jima is like Mecca for the Marines. Visiting Marines leave personal mementos behind during their 'pilgrimages'. The Eagle, Globe and Anchors on the left and right side of the monument are completely covered in dog tags left by visiting Marines and service men to honor the 6,821 killed.


Mount Suribachi overlooks the landing beaches. During the battle for Iwo Jima, Mt Suribachi gave the defending Japanese forces a perfect vantage point from which to direct lethal artillery fire on the Marines' hastily dug positions on the beach.


Marines lie ****e in the sand of Invasion Beach on Iwo Jima in preparation to rush across the beach.

Marines race across the beach to relive the experiences the Marines who fought for Iwo Jima might of had on D-Day of the Battle.


The guide for this trip asked the Marines to rush this dune to get an idea of what the Marines who took Iwo Jima faced upon landing. Every step you take up, you slide down and into the dune. You have to work hard to get to the top. Imagine doing that with 100 lbs on your back while being shot at and artillery raining down on you.

Today, a monument rests on the spot where Franklin Sousley, Harlon Block, Michael Strank, John Bradley, Rene Gagnon, and Ira Hayes raised the American flag 4 days into the battle for Iwo Jima. Barely visible through the legs of the flag raisers is the landing beach.

[KB]

Awesome pics of Iwo.

[Arnie100]

[vor033]

In these photos were taken on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009, U.S. Marines with Alpha Company -Task Force Raider, 2nd Recon Battalion on a mission in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan. Task Force Raider is a strike force, which conducts raids targeting Taliban networks in the Helmand province.

[vor033]

Petty Officer 2nd Class Courtney Lust, a U.S. Navy SARC, or Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsman, with U.S. Marines Alpha Company-Task Force Raider, 2nd Recon Battalion, puts on his gloves as he prepares to go on a night mission from a temporary staging area at a combat outpost, in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Monday, Oct. 12, 2009. Task Force Raider is a strike force who's purpose is to conduct raids targeting Taliban networks in the Helmand province.

[HollywoodMarine]

I hope video's are okay too.
Outstanding work with the M-198 howitzer

I found a faster gun crew firing 3 rounds in 20 seconds...


and a commical one.

[Bro Jangles]

what is mounted to the side of that M16A4's carrying handle?

[bear]

Its an m203 sight.

[hogdriver]

One of the most impressive threads! Thanks!

[bshnt2015]

thanks for the pics, very nice.

[Petro[ITA]]

Hires

Lance Cpl. Mark W. Briggs, assaultman with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, waits to be extracted in UH-1 helicopters from an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids. Briggs, 25, is a Salt Lake City native.

Hires

Cpl. Keith A. Nuckles, left, and Lance Cpl. Carlos Batista, with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, prepare to climb to the roof of a building to take out a mortar position in an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids. Nuckles, 21, is a native of Pacoima, Calif., and Batista, 20, is a Miami-native.

Hires

Sgt. Patrick R. Stephens, squad leader with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, halts members of his squad behind a wall before deciding his next move in an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids. Stephens, 25, is a native of Austin, Texas. (Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Bill Lisbon)

Hires

Lance Cpl. Carlos Batista, a rifle team leader with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, keeps watch for enemy on the roof of a building in an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids. Batista, 20, is a Miami-native.

Hires

Lance Cpl. Tyler Steffins, left, and Lance Cpl. Matthew J. Huebsch, with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, keep watch on an alley in an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids. Steffins, 21, is a native of Marysville, Wash., and Huebsch, 23, is a native of St. Ansgar, Iowa.

Hires

Sgt. Patrick R. Stephens, right, squad leader with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, calls in his position while Lance Cpl. Matthew J. Huebsch watches his back in an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids. Stephens, 25, is a native of Austin, Texas, and Huebsch, 23, is a native of St. Ansgar, Iowa.

http://www.marines.mil/unit/mcasyuma...1Z-01.jpgHires

2nd Lt. Lucky Prak, 2nd platoon commander, right, watches as two Marines from E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, detain role player Lance Cpl. Timothy Buckley during a helicopter-borne raid on a mock Middle Eastern village on U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, Oct. 12, 2009. The Marines landed in four different locations via UH-1N Huey helicopters around the area with the intent to clear the town and extract three high-value individuals.

Hires

Sgt. Patrick R. Stephens, right, squad leader with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, hands a map of the village he seized from a mock insurgent to Lance Cpl. Matthew J. Huebsch in an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids. Stephens, 25, is a native of Austin, Texas, and Huebsch, 23, is a native of St. Ansgar, Iowa.

Hires

Lance Cpl. Mark W. Briggs, left, Lance Cpl. Tyson G. Bainum and Lance Cpl. Tyler Steffins with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, halt behind a wall moments before rushing to a landing site where they will be extracted in UH-1 helicopters from an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids. Briggs, 25, is Salt Lake City-native, Bainum, 20, is a native of Canyon, Texas, and Steffins, 21, is from Marysville, Wash.

Hires

Members of E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, run toward a landing site where they will be extracted in UH-1 helicopters from an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids.

Hires

Sgt. Patrick R. Stephens, right, squad leader with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, signals Lance Cpl. Mark W. Briggs before extraction by in UH-1 helicopters from an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids. Stephens, 25, is a native of Austin, Texas, and Briggs, 25, is a Salt Lake City native.

Hires

Sgt. Patrick R. Stephens, right, squad leader with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, signals Lance Cpl. Mark W. Briggs before extraction by in UH-1 helicopters from an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids. Stephens, 25, is a native of Austin, Texas, and Briggs, 25, is a Salt Lake City native.

Hires

Members of E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, move toward waiting UH-1 helicopters in order to be extracted from an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids.

Hires

Two UH-1 helicopters carry members of E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, from an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids.

[parker]

Nice, posting up my buddy Browne!

Arroooga.

[vor033]

Marines from Sierra Battery, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to fire a 155 mm shell from an M777 howitzer during the Combined-Arms Live-Fire Exercise conducted as part of Exercise Bright Star 2009 in Egypt, Oct. 14, 2009. The multinational exercise is designed to improve readiness, interoperability and strengthen the military and professional relationships among U.S., Egyptian and participating forces. Bright Star is conducted by U.S. Central Command and held every two years. Elements of the 22nd MEU are currently are participating in the multinational exercise while serving as the theatre reserve force for U.S. Central Command.