Stories

AL ASAD, Iraq ? Staff Sgt. Andrew C. Rondon, tower supervisor and crew chief with Marine Air Control Squadron 1, Detachment Alpha scans the runway before authorizing a cargo plane to land June 22. Rondon, a native of Bristol, Conn., is in charge of one of the three crews of air traffic controllers in the detachment. - AL ASAD, Iraq ? Staff Sgt. Andrew C. Rondon, tower supervisor and crew chief with Marine Air Control Squadron 1, Detachment Alpha scans the runway before authorizing a cargo plane to land June 22. Rondon, a native of Bristol, Conn., is in charge of one of the three crews of air traffic controllers in the detachment.

AL ASAD, Iraq-A pilot with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224 conducts final checks before launching in support of Operation Spear June 20. The squadron flew 24 sorties in direct combat support as Marines and soldiers battled insurgents near the Syrian border. - AL ASAD, Iraq-A pilot with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224 conducts final checks before launching in support of Operation Spear June 20. The squadron flew 24 sorties in direct combat support as Marines and soldiers battled insurgents near the Syrian border.

AL QAIM, Iraq - An AH-1W Super Cobra from Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 269, Detachment Al Qaim flies off to escort a UH-60A Blackhawk during a medical evacuation mission June 17. The 'Gunrunners' recently supported Operation Spear, an offensive aimed at eliminating insurgents and foreign fighters from the northwestern Al Anbar province. - AL QAIM, Iraq - An AH-1W Super Cobra from Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 269, Detachment Al Qaim flies off to escort a UH-60A Blackhawk during a medical evacuation mission June 17. The 'Gunrunners' recently supported Operation Spear, an offensive aimed at eliminating insurgents and foreign fighters from the northwestern Al Anbar province.

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq ? Lance Cpl. Ryan Merckberger, a welder with Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 and native of Olive, Okla., cuts a metal rod during construction of the pre-engineered steel buildings, called K-Span?s, the Sand Sharks are building for the unmanned aerial vehicle squadron here. Merckberger is the only welder on the construction site and is responsible for all cutting and welding that may be needed for the project. - AL TAQADDUM, Iraq ? Lance Cpl. Ryan Merckberger, a welder with Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 and native of Olive, Okla., cuts a metal rod during construction of the pre-engineered steel buildings, called K-Span?s, the Sand Sharks are building for the unmanned aerial vehicle squadron here. Merckberger is the only welder on the construction site and is responsible for all cutting and welding that may be needed for the project.

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq ? Sergeant Valerie Belue, a crew chief with Marine Light/Attack Squadron 775 poses in front of a UH-1N Huey here. Belue enlisted in the Marine Corps to work and fly on UH-1N Hueys. - AL TAQADDUM, Iraq ? Sergeant Valerie Belue, a crew chief with Marine Light/Attack Squadron 775 poses in front of a UH-1N Huey here. Belue enlisted in the Marine Corps to work and fly on UH-1N Hueys.

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq ? Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 refuel a UH-1N Huey and an AH-1 Super Cobra from Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 775. The Marines are taking part of a five-day operation which they refuel aircraft from HML/A-775 and Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364. - CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq ? Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 refuel a UH-1N Huey and an AH-1 Super Cobra from Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 775. The Marines are taking part of a five-day operation which they refuel aircraft from HML/A-775 and Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364.

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq ? Lance Cpl. Zac Crum, a radio repair technician with Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38 and Rialto, Calif., native, checks a radio inside a Humvee here June 20. The maintenance platoon is responsible for repairing all communications equipment that may fail during daily operation. - AL TAQADDUM, Iraq ? Lance Cpl. Zac Crum, a radio repair technician with Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38 and Rialto, Calif., native, checks a radio inside a Humvee here June 20. The maintenance platoon is responsible for repairing all communications equipment that may fail during daily operation.

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AL QAIM, Iraq ? First Lt. Billy R. Jackson, a CH-46E Sea Knight pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 264 and Bonifay, Fla., native, gives the thumbs up as he prepares to start one of the engines on the helicopter June 18. The ?Black Knights? of HMM-264 have a detachment of Marines and aircraft here conducting casualty evacuation missions during Operation Spear. - AL QAIM, Iraq ? First Lt. Billy R. Jackson, a CH-46E Sea Knight pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 264 and Bonifay, Fla., native, gives the thumbs up as he prepares to start one of the engines on the helicopter June 18. The ?Black Knights? of HMM-264 have a detachment of Marines and aircraft here conducting casualty evacuation missions during Operation Spear.

AL ASAD, Iraq (June 18, 2005) - Lance Cpl. Jefferay Brown, avionics technician and native of Cleveland, is currently serving with the Black Knights of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 264 in Al Asad, Iraq. The Shaw High School graduate works each day to ensure the electrical components of the squadron's CH-46 helicopters are properly working. - AL ASAD, Iraq (June 18, 2005) - Lance Cpl. Jefferay Brown, avionics technician and native of Cleveland, is currently serving with the Black Knights of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 264 in Al Asad, Iraq. The Shaw High School graduate works each day to ensure the electrical components of the squadron's CH-46 helicopters are properly working.