Stories

This identity design was created in adobe illustrator to represent the official unit insignia for 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Feb. 12, 2025. The flying diamond insignia was first recognized during World War II as a shoulder patch. The patch was later mandated by the Commandant of the Marine Corps to represent all Marine Aircraft Wings.

2nd Marine Aircaft Wing

II Marine Expeditionary Force

Archive: October, 2005

The Navy Chaplain Corps: 230 Years of Service to God and Country

“Vocati ad Servitum” For 230 years, the Navy Chaplain Corps has been called to serve God, America, and America’s sea services. Through wars and peacetime, in good times and bad times, Navy chaplains have been there provide ministry, counseling and solace for Sailors and Marines and their families in countless places around the globe. On 28

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VMA-223 Sgt. Maj. brings unique experience, keeps Marines focused

Sgt. Maj. Courtney K. Curtis had never served in an aviation combat unit. After enlisting in the Marine Corps as an amphibious assault vehicle crewman, Curtis had spent all his time in the Fleet Marine Force with Marine Corps ground units. As a first sergeant, Curtis deployed twice with a tank battalion, to Djibouti, Africa, and to support the

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Sergeant C. Alexander Wolf, a communications signal collection and signals intelligence analyst for 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), is on his fourth deployment to the Middle East since 2003. - Sergeant C. Alexander Wolf, a communications signal collection and signals intelligence analyst for 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), is on his fourth deployment to the Middle East since 2003.

Kokomo, Ind., native rides again, on fourth deployment to Middle East

The current operational tempo of the Global War on Terrorism means many Marines are deploying to combat zones on a yearly basis. Back-to-back combat tours can cause headaches for Marines and heartaches for their families, but for Sgt. C. Alexander Wolf, it’s just another day at the office. Wolf, the signals intelligence chief for 2nd Marine

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Staff Sgt. Michael Murrell, the 500 division quality assurance representative at Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26 (Reinforced), paints on a trashed helicopter blade at Al Asad, Iraq, Oct. 22. He said the plane flying into one of the Twin Towers stands as a powerful reminder of why we are here and who we are fighting. He stressed he does not want to sugarcoat his art and hopes it will remind people what happened that day years down the road. - Staff Sgt. Michael Murrell, the 500 division quality assurance representative at Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26 (Reinforced), paints on a trashed helicopter blade at Al Asad, Iraq, Oct. 22. He said the plane flying into one of the Twin Towers stands as a powerful reminder of why we are here and who we are fighting. He stressed he does not want to sugarcoat his art and hopes it will remind people what happened that day years down the road.

MALS-26 Patriot creates unique art in Iraq

Once they turned on helicopters as they flew into combat. Now, they are enshrined with visions of Iwo Jima, Sept. 11, kabars, Purple Hearts and Marines patrolling the deserts of Iraq. Staff Sgt. Michael Murrell, the 500 division quality assurance representative at Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26 (Reinforced), paints these images on trashed

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Bulldogs in Iraq ready for any challenge

To protect lives, they devote all their energy, no matter what challenges arise. The Bulldogs of Marine Attack Squadron 223 at Al Asad, Iraq, Oct. 23, have flown every scheduled combat mission for more than two months while simultaneously replacing five engines on their AV-8B Harriers, a feat which has required the support of every Marine in the

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Cpl. Samuel Santiago, an aircraft electrical systems technician with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 and Miami native, replaces a light bulb on top of a KC-130J Hercules at Al Asad, Iraq, Oct. 21. Santiago said the job may seem easy, but the size of the screws can cause the task to be very tedious. - Cpl. Samuel Santiago, an aircraft electrical systems technician with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 and Miami native, replaces a light bulb on top of a KC-130J Hercules at Al Asad, Iraq, Oct. 21. Santiago said the job may seem easy, but the size of the screws can cause the task to be very tedious.

C-130J proves itself in combat environment

Whether dropping precision bombs on enemy targets, jamming enemy equipment or facing combat with the enemy on the ground, all Marines in aviation share one common need, fuel. The Loadmasters of Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 consistently have their KC-130J Hercules ready to provide in-flight refueling, rapid ground refueling and

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Sergeant Craig Meltzer, a 26-year-old Virginia Beach, Va., native, deployed with the Bulldogs of Marine Attack Squadron 223 from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., in August. As the senior noncommissioned officer in the AV-8B Harrier squadron's flight equipment section, the Salem High School graduate oversees inspection of the aviation life support system worn by pilots. - Sergeant Craig Meltzer, a 26-year-old Virginia Beach, Va., native, deployed with the Bulldogs of Marine Attack Squadron 223 from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., in August. As the senior noncommissioned officer in the AV-8B Harrier squadron's flight equipment section, the Salem High School graduate oversees inspection of the aviation life support system worn by pilots.

'Bulldog' deploys with two families in mind

Sergeant Craig Meltzer did not want to leave his wife and 2-month-old daughter at home while he deployed to Iraq's Al Anbar province for six months. But, as much as he hated to leave his wife and daughter, the idea of watching his Marine family deploy without him was unthinkable. Meltzer, a 26-year-old Virginia Beach, Va., native, deployed with the

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Cpl. Adam Throne, a field artillery cannoneer and Mason City, Iowa, native, and Lance Cpl. Lance Clark, a field artillery cannoneer and Des Moines, Iowa, native, stand post at a remote detention facility, Oct. 18, at Al Asad, Iraq. The Detention Company Marines and Sailors from 5th Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, serve as lock and key holders for detainees at the RDF. - Cpl. Adam Throne, a field artillery cannoneer and Mason City, Iowa, native, and Lance Cpl. Lance Clark, a field artillery cannoneer and Des Moines, Iowa, native, stand post at a remote detention facility, Oct. 18, at Al Asad, Iraq. The Detention Company Marines and Sailors from 5th Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, serve as lock and key holders for detainees at the RDF.

Detention Co. keeps Al Asad in lockdown

Discipline can come in many forms for Marines in a combat area. For the Detention Company Marines and sailors from 5th Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, discipline means putting aside personal feelings to safeguard and house detainees who could have recently killed or injured fellow service members. The Detention Co. serves as a lock and key holder

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Sergeant Abraham Gonzalez, the career retention specialist for Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26 (Reinforced), received a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Oct. 15, for reenlisting 42 first term Marines, surpassing 100 percent of his mission, two weeks into the fiscal year. The 25-year-old Bronx, N.Y., native oversees career retention for the deployed Patriots of MALS-26. - Sergeant Abraham Gonzalez, the career retention specialist for Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26 (Reinforced), received a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Oct. 15, for reenlisting 42 first term Marines, surpassing 100 percent of his mission, two weeks into the fiscal year. The 25-year-old Bronx, N.Y., native oversees career retention for the deployed Patriots of MALS-26.