News Stories Archive

From left, Armed Forces of the Philippines Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, commander, Southern Luzon Command, and Philippine Exercise Co-Director; Undersecretary Cardozo M. Luna, Undersecretary of the Department of National Defense; Sung Y. Kim, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines; Armed Forces of the Philippines Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, Jr., AFP Chief of Staff; and U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Christopher A. McPhillips, commanding general, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade stand shoulder-to-shoulder at Tejeros Hall, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Manila, Philippines, April 1, 2019. The ceremony represented the official commencement of Balikatan 2019 and the continued partnership between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines. Balikatan 19, in its 35th iteration, is an annual U.S.-Philippine military training focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism, and other combined military operations held from April 1 to April 12. - From left, Armed Forces of the Philippines Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, commander, Southern Luzon Command, and Philippine Exercise Co-Director; Undersecretary Cardozo M. Luna, Undersecretary of the Department of National Defense; Sung Y. Kim, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines; Armed Forces of the Philippines Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, Jr., AFP Chief of Staff; and U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Christopher A. McPhillips, commanding general, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade stand shoulder-to-shoulder at Tejeros Hall, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Manila, Philippines, April 1, 2019. The ceremony represented the official commencement of Balikatan 2019 and the continued partnership between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines. Balikatan 19, in its 35th iteration, is an annual U.S.-Philippine military training focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism, and other combined military operations held from April 1 to April 12.

Ten Marine veterans received awards at Hadnot Point parade ground Saturday morning as a result of performances in engagements in the Pacific theater of war. Eight received Gold Stars in lieu of a second Purple Heart, one received a Bronze Medal heroic and meritorious performance of duty and one received a Purple Heart. The presentations were made by Lt. Col. T. M. Sheffield, Infantry Training Regiment, and Maj. L. G. Ditta, Infantry Schools Battalion, prior to a “pass in review” of men serving in the Officer Candidate Applicants’ Battalion. Shown in above photo, left to right, are Lt. Col. Sheffield, Maj. Ditta, Sgt. Lawrence Gerkin, Platoon Sgt. Robert Levy, Sgt. Robert Sadler, Sgt. Harry Smith, Sgt. Louis Cozzens, Sgt. Herbert Meza, and Cpl. Calvin Lawson, Cpl. Robert Heard, Cpl. William Hinkle and Cpl. Robert Radish. - Ten Marine veterans received awards at Hadnot Point parade ground Saturday morning as a result of performances in engagements in the Pacific theater of war. Eight received Gold Stars in lieu of a second Purple Heart, one received a Bronze Medal heroic and meritorious performance of duty and one received a Purple Heart. The presentations were made by Lt. Col. T. M. Sheffield, Infantry Training Regiment, and Maj. L. G. Ditta, Infantry Schools Battalion, prior to a “pass in review” of men serving in the Officer Candidate Applicants’ Battalion. Shown in above photo, left to right, are Lt. Col. Sheffield, Maj. Ditta, Sgt. Lawrence Gerkin, Platoon Sgt. Robert Levy, Sgt. Robert Sadler, Sgt. Harry Smith, Sgt. Louis Cozzens, Sgt. Herbert Meza, and Cpl. Calvin Lawson, Cpl. Robert Heard, Cpl. William Hinkle and Cpl. Robert Radish.

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. David H. Berger, left, outgoing commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, and Lt. Gen. Lewis A. Craparotta, incoming commander of MARFORPAC, salute the colors as they pass in review during the MARFORPAC change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Aug. 8, 2018. The change of command ceremony represents the transfer of responsibility and authority over MARFORPAC between commanders. - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. David H. Berger, left, outgoing commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, and Lt. Gen. Lewis A. Craparotta, incoming commander of MARFORPAC, salute the colors as they pass in review during the MARFORPAC change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Aug. 8, 2018. The change of command ceremony represents the transfer of responsibility and authority over MARFORPAC between commanders.

The Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Glenn M. Walters poses for a photo with women attending the 2018 Joint Women's Leadership Symposium, San Diego, Calif., June 22, 2018. JWLS is the largest annual gathering of women in uniform in the nation hosted by the Sea Service Leadership Association, and is dedicated to providing preemient professional development events to women serving in the Department of Defense and Coast Guard. - The Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Glenn M. Walters poses for a photo with women attending the 2018 Joint Women's Leadership Symposium, San Diego, Calif., June 22, 2018. JWLS is the largest annual gathering of women in uniform in the nation hosted by the Sea Service Leadership Association, and is dedicated to providing preemient professional development events to women serving in the Department of Defense and Coast Guard.

Clement E. Hill holds the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously awarded to his father Pfc. Burnie W. Hill, a Montford Point Marine May 31, 2018 at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. In 1942, African Americans were given the opportunity to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. Nearly 20,000 African Americans from 1942-1949 were trained separately from their white counterparts at Montford Point, a facility at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. - Clement E. Hill holds the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously awarded to his father Pfc. Burnie W. Hill, a Montford Point Marine May 31, 2018 at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. In 1942, African Americans were given the opportunity to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. Nearly 20,000 African Americans from 1942-1949 were trained separately from their white counterparts at Montford Point, a facility at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Claudio D’Augustino stands in front of his sculpture during a dedication ceremony at the Officers’ Club aboard the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Jan. 9, 2018. The sculpture was donated to the Combat Center during the ceremony to express D’Augustino’s appreciation for members of the armed services. - Claudio D’Augustino stands in front of his sculpture during a dedication ceremony at the Officers’ Club aboard the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Jan. 9, 2018. The sculpture was donated to the Combat Center during the ceremony to express D’Augustino’s appreciation for members of the armed services.

Chikako McMasters, a Vietnam war hero’s daughter, stands in front of a portrait and biography of her father that are located at the entrance of Dorris Hall - Chikako McMasters, a Vietnam war hero’s daughter, stands in front of a portrait and biography of her father that are located at the entrance of Dorris Hall, the renamed staff non-commissioned officer barracks on Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 22, 2017. Recently, Chikako discovered she was the daughter of Staff Sgt. Claude H. Dorris, a Navy Cross recipient in Vietnam, which gave her a deeper connection to the Marine Corps. McMasters is a native of Okinawa, Japan.

Marines with Headquaters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations - East prepare to march in the Warsaw Veterans Day Parade in Warsaw, N.C., Nov. 4, 2017. T - Marines with Headquaters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations - East prepare to march in the Warsaw Veterans Day Parade in Warsaw, N.C., Nov. 4, 2017. Thousands of attendees gathered for the 97th Annual Veterans Day Parade in Warsaw to recognize and celebrate America’s veterans and active duty service members.

Capt. Christopher Lavergne, a KC-130J Super Hercules pilot with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 352, proudly displays the 2017 Marine Corps Aviation Association Henry Wildfang award in front of a KC-130J at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., March 27. VMGR-352 received the Henry Wildfang award for successful mission accomplishments and the most mishap free hours. - Capt. Christopher Lavergne, a KC-130J Super Hercules pilot with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 352, proudly displays the 2017 Marine Corps Aviation Association Henry Wildfang award in front of a KC-130J at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., March 27. VMGR-352 received the Henry Wildfang award for successful mission accomplishments and the most mishap free hours.

Iwo Jima veteran Francis Jackson participates in the 72nd Reunion of Honor commemorative service on Iwo To, Japan March 25, 2017. Jackson was one of eight veterans in attendance alongside American and Japanese distinguished guests, both military and civilian. This event presented the opportunity for the U.S. and Japanese people to mutually remember and honor thousands of service members who fought and died on the hallowed grounds of Iwo Jima. - Iwo Jima veteran Francis Jackson participates in the 72nd Reunion of Honor commemorative service on Iwo To, Japan March 25, 2017. Jackson was one of eight veterans in attendance alongside American and Japanese distinguished guests, both military and civilian. This event presented the opportunity for the U.S. and Japanese people to mutually remember and honor thousands of service members who fought and died on the hallowed grounds of Iwo Jima.