Nearly half a century has passed since the Marines of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment fought through hell in Vietnam. The strains of combat have long imprisoned the vigor of their youth. Bodies have changed and reflexes slowed. Fresh, young faces of earlier days are ripe with weathered character. The men have lived a lifetime beyond war, but their memories remain vivid. On Aug. 22, 2012, approximately 30 Vietnam-era 2/3 Marines and their families visited Marine Corps Base Hawaii to reminisce on their service and render honor to a brother lost in combat, Sgt. Maj. Wayne Hayes. Pictured from left are: retired Gunnery Sgt. Ken Arnold, a platoon sergeant with Golf Company, 2/3, and Cuthbert, Ga., native; former Cpl. John Davila, a team leader with Fox Co., 2/3, and Ridgewood, N.J., native; former Staff Sgt. Don Watts, a platoon sergeant with Fox Co., 2/3, and Cloverdale, Calif., native; and Sgt. Bill Vizzerra, a rifleman with Golf Co., 2/3, and Palmer, Ak., native. Both Davila and Vizzerra were wounded in action. - Nearly half a century has passed since the Marines of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment fought through hell in Vietnam. The strains of combat have long imprisoned the vigor of their youth. Bodies have changed and reflexes slowed. Fresh, young faces of earlier days are ripe with weathered character. The men have lived a lifetime beyond war, but their memories remain vivid. On Aug. 22, 2012, approximately 30 Vietnam-era 2/3 Marines and their families visited Marine Corps Base Hawaii to reminisce on their service and render honor to a brother lost in combat, Sgt. Maj. Wayne Hayes. Pictured from left are: retired Gunnery Sgt. Ken Arnold, a platoon sergeant with Golf Company, 2/3, and Cuthbert, Ga., native; former Cpl. John Davila, a team leader with Fox Co., 2/3, and Ridgewood, N.J., native; former Staff Sgt. Don Watts, a platoon sergeant with Fox Co., 2/3, and Cloverdale, Calif., native; and Sgt. Bill Vizzerra, a rifleman with Golf Co., 2/3, and Palmer, Ak., native. Both Davila and Vizzerra were wounded in action.

Marines with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, clear a house during counterinsurgency training on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Aug. 15, 2011. The infantry Marines are preparing for the Mojave Viper exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., at the end of August, following pre-deployment training on the Island of Hawaii and here. This month long training event will be 3/3’s final evaluation before deploying to Afghanistan’s Helmand province in support of Operation Enduring Freedom this fall. - Marines with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, clear a house during counterinsurgency training on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Aug. 15, 2011. The infantry Marines are preparing for the Mojave Viper exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., at the end of August, following pre-deployment training on the Island of Hawaii and here. This month long training event will be 3/3’s final evaluation before deploying to Afghanistan’s Helmand province in support of Operation Enduring Freedom this fall.

Lance Cpl. Dylan Ottney, an anti-tank missileman with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, scans his area while providing security in a mock Afghan village during counterinsurgency training at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Aug. 2, 2011. Over two weeks, 3/3’s line companies rotated from classes to two-day training evolutions at Schofield’s military operations in urban terrain facility, working through scenarios by practicing patrolling, working vehicle control points and interacting with the role-players. Moving further into their pre-deployment training program, the battalion is preparing for the Mojave Viper exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., at the end of August. The month long training event will be their final evaluation before deploying to Afghanistan’s Helmand province in support of Operation Enduring Freedom this fall. - Lance Cpl. Dylan Ottney, an anti-tank missileman with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, scans his area while providing security in a mock Afghan village during counterinsurgency training at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Aug. 2, 2011. Over two weeks, 3/3’s line companies rotated from classes to two-day training evolutions at Schofield’s military operations in urban terrain facility, working through scenarios by practicing patrolling, working vehicle control points and interacting with the role-players. Moving further into their pre-deployment training program, the battalion is preparing for the Mojave Viper exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., at the end of August. The month long training event will be their final evaluation before deploying to Afghanistan’s Helmand province in support of Operation Enduring Freedom this fall.

Lance Cpl. Anthony Nolley-Crosson, an intelligence clerk with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, prepares to launch an RQ-11B Raven unmanned aircraft system during UAS flight operations at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, Hawaii, July 12, 2011. In only a few short months, Nolley-Crosson and fellow 3/3 Marines will use the Raven in Afghanistan to gather intelligence, allowing battalion leaders to analyze and use the information for reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition. - Lance Cpl. Anthony Nolley-Crosson, an intelligence clerk with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, prepares to launch an RQ-11B Raven unmanned aircraft system during UAS flight operations at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, Hawaii, July 12, 2011. In only a few short months, Nolley-Crosson and fellow 3/3 Marines will use the Raven in Afghanistan to gather intelligence, allowing battalion leaders to analyze and use the information for reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition.

Cpl. Raymond P. Weeks, an intelligence specialist with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, was selected as the National Military Intelligence Association’s Col. Donald G. Cook Award recipient, April 20, 2011. The award recognizes Weeks for his intelligence support to India Company, 3/3, during a 2010 deployment to Afghanistan’s Helmand province in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The 21-year-old from Miami will be presented the award at the NMIA Awards Banquet in McLean, Va., May 15. - Cpl. Raymond P. Weeks, an intelligence specialist with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, was selected as the National Military Intelligence Association’s Col. Donald G. Cook Award recipient, April 20, 2011. The award recognizes Weeks for his intelligence support to India Company, 3/3, during a 2010 deployment to Afghanistan’s Helmand province in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The 21-year-old from Miami will be presented the award at the NMIA Awards Banquet in McLean, Va., May 15.

Cpl. Antonio Tellez, an administrative clerk with Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, holds his 3-month-old son before departing Marine Corps Base Hawaii on a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, April 25, 2011. Over the course of the week, approximately 550 Marine and sailors from 1/12 departed Hawaii to replace 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. Unlike their last two deployments — supporting Task Forces Military Police in Iraq — 1/12 will revert back to its primary mission and provide artillery fire support to 2nd Marine Division (Forward) during ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the province. - Cpl. Antonio Tellez, an administrative clerk with Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, holds his 3-month-old son before departing Marine Corps Base Hawaii on a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, April 25, 2011. Over the course of the week, approximately 550 Marine and sailors from 1/12 departed Hawaii to replace 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. Unlike their last two deployments — supporting Task Forces Military Police in Iraq — 1/12 will revert back to its primary mission and provide artillery fire support to 2nd Marine Division (Forward) during ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the province.

Marines and sailors with Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, load their bags into semi trucks at the Marine Corps Exchange Annex parking lot on Marine Corps Base Hawaii before departing on a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, April 13, 2011. Approximately 1,000 Marine and sailors from 1/3 will join Regimental Combat Team 1, based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., only ten months after returning from a deployment to Helmand province’s Nawa District in support of RCT-7. Contrasting their last deployment, 1/3’s area of operation will shift further south into the province’s Garmsir District, where they will replace 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. (For high resolution image go to http://www.dvidshub.net/image/389942/rejoining-fight-1-3-lava-dogs-leave-afghanistan-deployment) - Marines and sailors with Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, load their bags into semi trucks at the Marine Corps Exchange Annex parking lot on Marine Corps Base Hawaii before departing on a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, April 13, 2011. Approximately 1,000 Marine and sailors from 1/3 will join Regimental Combat Team 1, based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., only ten months after returning from a deployment to Helmand province’s Nawa District in support of RCT-7. Contrasting their last deployment, 1/3’s area of operation will shift further south into the province’s Garmsir District, where they will replace 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. (For high resolution image go to http://www.dvidshub.net/image/389942/rejoining-fight-1-3-lava-dogs-leave-afghanistan-deployment)

Marines with 3rd Marine Regiment honor the regiment’s fallen Marines and sailors while taking a knee at the Pacific War Memorial during a Fallen Heroes Run on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Dec. 15, 2010. Since 2004, 116 Marines and sailors from 3rd Marine Regiment have been killed during operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. On Dec. 14 and 15, teams of at least two Marines or sailors in combat boots and camouflage trousers ran a 2-mile evolution 116 times — one for each fallen hero. The route took them from the 3rd Marine Regiment headquarters building to the Pacific War Memorial here and back. - Marines with 3rd Marine Regiment honor the regiment’s fallen Marines and sailors while taking a knee at the Pacific War Memorial during a Fallen Heroes Run on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Dec. 15, 2010. Since 2004, 116 Marines and sailors from 3rd Marine Regiment have been killed during operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. On Dec. 14 and 15, teams of at least two Marines or sailors in combat boots and camouflage trousers ran a 2-mile evolution 116 times — one for each fallen hero. The route took them from the 3rd Marine Regiment headquarters building to the Pacific War Memorial here and back.

5-year-old Caroline Law grips the hand of her father, Chief Warrant Officer 2 James Law, battalion gunner, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, following his return to Marine Corps Base Hawaii from a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan, Dec. 7, 2010. After replacing 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, in Helmand province’s Nawa district last May, 3/3 supported Regimental Combat Teams 1 and 7, as part of counterinsurgency operations during Operation Enduring Freedom. The battalion’s operations varied from securing elections and ensuring school openings, to more traditional combat operations such as security patrols and clearing danger areas, said Maj. Jay Garcia, executive officer, 3/3, of Honolulu. The return of “America’s Battalion” brought 925 Marines back to Hawaii. - 5-year-old Caroline Law grips the hand of her father, Chief Warrant Officer 2 James Law, battalion gunner, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, following his return to Marine Corps Base Hawaii from a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan, Dec. 7, 2010. After replacing 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, in Helmand province’s Nawa district last May, 3/3 supported Regimental Combat Teams 1 and 7, as part of counterinsurgency operations during Operation Enduring Freedom. The battalion’s operations varied from securing elections and ensuring school openings, to more traditional combat operations such as security patrols and clearing danger areas, said Maj. Jay Garcia, executive officer, 3/3, of Honolulu. The return of “America’s Battalion” brought 925 Marines back to Hawaii.

Lt. Gen. Duane Thiessen, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, poses with U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye after cutting the ribbon at the new Supporting Arms Virtual Trainer building on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Nov. 5, 2010. According to the Marine Corps Systems Command, the SAVT is a device used to train joint terminal attack controllers, forward air controllers, and forward observers in the placement of tactical ordnance for close air support, naval surface fires and surface fires. The trainer will be used to support initial schoolhouse requirements and annual currency requirements. During his visit, Inouye, a former captain with the U.S. Army’s decorated 442nd Regimental Combat Team, also shared his experiences with officers at the Officer’s Club here. - Lt. Gen. Duane Thiessen, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, poses with U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye after cutting the ribbon at the new Supporting Arms Virtual Trainer building on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Nov. 5, 2010. According to the Marine Corps Systems Command, the SAVT is a device used to train joint terminal attack controllers, forward air controllers, and forward observers in the placement of tactical ordnance for close air support, naval surface fires and surface fires. The trainer will be used to support initial schoolhouse requirements and annual currency requirements. During his visit, Inouye, a former captain with the U.S. Army’s decorated 442nd Regimental Combat Team, also shared his experiences with officers at the Officer’s Club here.