Stories

AL ASAD, Iraq - The Marines in the administrative section of Marine Aircraft Group 26 pose for a group photograph accompanied by the group headquarters squadron commanding officer and the group adjutant July 19. Considered the backbone of the group, the administrators work 24 hours a day, seven days a week to make life easier for the more than 3,000 service members and Department of Defense civilians in the group. - AL ASAD, Iraq - The Marines in the administrative section of Marine Aircraft Group 26 pose for a group photograph accompanied by the group headquarters squadron commanding officer and the group adjutant July 19. Considered the backbone of the group, the administrators work 24 hours a day, seven days a week to make life easier for the more than 3,000 service members and Department of Defense civilians in the group.

Sgt. Wayne A. Switzer, EA-6B plane captain and native of Clinton, Miss., directs a Prowler down the tarmac on its way to the flightline. - Sgt. Wayne A. Switzer, EA-6B plane captain and native of Clinton, Miss., directs a Prowler down the tarmac on its way to the flightline.

AL ASAD, Iraq ? Sergeant Edwin E. Medina-Acevedo, an aviation supply clerk from Miami assigned to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26, talks with Army Col. George R. Harris, commander of the 326th Area Support Group and Leavenworth, Kan., native, after the unveiling of the Memorial Lane sign July 21. One of the streets aboard the air base was dedicated in honor of those whose lives have been lost in support of the Global War on Terrorism. - AL ASAD, Iraq ? Sergeant Edwin E. Medina-Acevedo, an aviation supply clerk from Miami assigned to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26, talks with Army Col. George R. Harris, commander of the 326th Area Support Group and Leavenworth, Kan., native, after the unveiling of the Memorial Lane sign July 21. One of the streets aboard the air base was dedicated in honor of those whose lives have been lost in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq ? Sergeant Ryan Bogedin, a Westland, Mich., native, and Lance Cpl. Edgar Lugo, a Goshen, N.Y., native, both flightline mechanics on Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364?s phase crew, put an engine together after inspecting it as part of a 150-hour phase inspection. The phase crew has completed 21 phase inspections since their arrival in March. - AL TAQADDUM, Iraq ? Sergeant Ryan Bogedin, a Westland, Mich., native, and Lance Cpl. Edgar Lugo, a Goshen, N.Y., native, both flightline mechanics on Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364?s phase crew, put an engine together after inspecting it as part of a 150-hour phase inspection. The phase crew has completed 21 phase inspections since their arrival in March.

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq?Gunnery Sgt. Nicholas Bykowetz, Flight Line Intelligence Center Chief, for Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 775, is supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom in Al Taqaddum, Iraq. Bykowetz first joined the Marine Corps after high school, in 1968, and served in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged in 1972, and then served off and on in the Marine Corps Reserves. In 1990 he applied for the active reserves and was accepted in 1991. Since then he has remained competitive as a career designated active duty reservist. Bykowetz will soon reach 20 years of active service and plans to retire in 2007 with 22 active duty years. - AL TAQADDUM, Iraq?Gunnery Sgt. Nicholas Bykowetz, Flight Line Intelligence Center Chief, for Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 775, is supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom in Al Taqaddum, Iraq. Bykowetz first joined the Marine Corps after high school, in 1968, and served in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged in 1972, and then served off and on in the Marine Corps Reserves. In 1990 he applied for the active reserves and was accepted in 1991. Since then he has remained competitive as a career designated active duty reservist. Bykowetz will soon reach 20 years of active service and plans to retire in 2007 with 22 active duty years.

AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq ? Iraqi children smile after receiving toys from members of the 5th Civil Affairs Group, 2nd Marine Division. Marines and Sailors of Marine Aircraft Group-26 have gathered more than 15,000 items that members of 5th CAG have delivered to the needy in the community. The items come from many sharing supporters in the United States. - AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq ? Iraqi children smile after receiving toys from members of the 5th Civil Affairs Group, 2nd Marine Division. Marines and Sailors of Marine Aircraft Group-26 have gathered more than 15,000 items that members of 5th CAG have delivered to the needy in the community. The items come from many sharing supporters in the United States.

AL ASAD, Iraq?Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Wagner, avionics technician and native of Fort Smith, Ark., checks various instruments that allow the F/A-18 Hornet?s computer stay in sync with other components on the jet. Wagner joined the Marine Corps at the end of 2003 and has been deployed here for almost seven months with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224. - AL ASAD, Iraq?Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Wagner, avionics technician and native of Fort Smith, Ark., checks various instruments that allow the F/A-18 Hornet?s computer stay in sync with other components on the jet. Wagner joined the Marine Corps at the end of 2003 and has been deployed here for almost seven months with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224.

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AL ASAD, Iraq ? Captain Tony Dill, aircraft maintenance officer assigned to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26, was selected as the recipient of the 2005 Marine Corps Aviation Association?s Earl Hattaway Marine Aviation Ground Officer of the Year Award. Dill, a 1984 graduate of Liberty High School in his native Bedford, Va., enlisted in the Marine Corps that year and moved up the ranks to where he is today. - AL ASAD, Iraq ? Captain Tony Dill, aircraft maintenance officer assigned to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26, was selected as the recipient of the 2005 Marine Corps Aviation Association?s Earl Hattaway Marine Aviation Ground Officer of the Year Award. Dill, a 1984 graduate of Liberty High School in his native Bedford, Va., enlisted in the Marine Corps that year and moved up the ranks to where he is today.

2nd Force Service Support Group - 2nd Force Service Support Group