Photo By Cpl. James Sauter | During a ceremony, a Marine of 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, hangs the...... read more read more
Subscribe
MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII - After almost a decade of fighting wars overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan, all three battalions of 3rd Marine Regiment honored their fallen Marine and sailor brethren during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom with a memorial run and ceremony on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, June 1.
The battalions of 3rd Marine Regiment ran in a single formation that stretched more than half-a-mile and called cadences throughout the three-mile run around the base. Upon arriving at Landing Zone Boondocker Training Area, the battalions formed up to begin the ceremony.
“Last week all of you heard from Col. Nastase that another chapter in 3rd Marine Regiment’s history has ended,” said Sgt. Maj. Justin LeHew, regimental sergeant major. “This regiment has fought everywhere from Iwo Jima, Khe Sahn and now Iraq and Afghanistan. As you can see, we have 116 Marines throughout the regiment wearing black t-shirts today. Those black t-shirts are worn in honor of the men in this regiment who have died in combat.”
Each Marine wearing a black t-shirt was carrying an identification tag of one of the 116 Marines and sailors killed in action. After each name of a Marine or sailor killed was announced, the Marine carrying the corresponding identification tag came to the front of the formation and hung the tag on the battlefield cross memorial that represented every Marine and sailor killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“It’s hard to put it all into words but the formation run was pretty amazing,” said Gunnery Sgt. Daniel Bowler, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. “I felt really honored to carry the dog tag for Lt. Col. McCloud, who was my company commander in Iraq. For me, it was a proper way to say goodbye.”
After the last name was called and his identification tag was hanged on the memorial, the Marines and sailors of 3rd Marines came to attention as a three-volley rifle salute was fired and taps played, echoing throughout the training area. The ceremony was concluded with a few words from Brig. Gen. Frederick Padilla, commanding general of 3rd Marine Division, and Col. Nathan Nastase, commanding officer of 3rd Marines.
“Last weekend, we celebrated Memorial Day across our nation and that day is marked in many different ways,” Padilla said. “To a few civilians, it may be a day of rest or catching a ball game but today we’ll remember our Marine and sailor brothers of 3rd Marine Regiment — those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, Corps and fellow Marines and sailors. We’ll never forget them. I just don’t have the words to show how much I’m proud of you and of them. God bless you all, Semper Fidelis and success to the Marines — ooh-rah!”
| Date Taken: | 06.01.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 01.25.2013 20:04 |
| Story ID: | 101075 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 455 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 3rd Marine Regiment honors 116 fallen brothers with memorial run, ceremony, by Cpl James Sauter, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
