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HADITHA, Iraq (May 5, 2006) -- A Marine sat on a collapsible metal chair with several other warriors seated around him and stared at four sets of dog tags, combat boots, rifles and Kevlar helmets. Tears welled up in his eyes as he slowly let his head drop into his hands. The tears fell, splashing the concrete floor. This Marine is one of hundreds from the Hawaii-based 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment who are still mourning the loss of Staff Sgt. Jason C. Ramseyer, who was killed two weeks ago in an explosion from an improvised explosive device. IEDs –...

HADITHA, Iraq (April 27, 2006) -- Staff Sgt. Jason C. Ramseyer will be remembered for the countless sacrifices he made for his brethren Marines. His final sacrifice came when he was killed April 21, 2006, by an improvised explosive device while on a convoy in Haditha in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province. Ramseyer, 28, was honored by his fellow Marines during a memorial service at the Haditha Dam here April 23, 2006. The Lenoir, N.C., native was remembered as a committed leader and devout family man by those who served with him. “He was by far the greatest leader of Marines...

BARWANAH, Iraq (March 29, 2006) -- When 22 year old Cpl. Jeff Globis taped a picture in his Kevlar helmet of his wife, he did so knowing it would be the only way he could see her for seven months. “I think of her all throughout the day,” said the team leader from Winthrop Harbor, Ill. “It was hard to say goodbye to her, but my Marines are my family and I can turn to them for support.” Globis is deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with hundreds of Marines and sailors from Lima Company, 3rd Battalion,...

BARWANAH, Iraq (March 28, 2006) -- Hawaii-based Marines searching a known hotspot for insurgent-placed “improvised explosive devices” say the danger posed by these deadly devices do not deter them from providing security to the local populace here. The Marines operating in this western Al Anbar Province town had one detonate only a few feet from them during a recent patrol and search operation in this town along the Euphrates River. When the explosion occurred, the Marines, from Lima Co., 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, were teaching Iraqi Soldiers the tactics and procedures used by insurgents who place IEDs. Since January...

2/14/2006 - HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFPN) -- Airmen here are working on the front lines of the war on terror. When a Predator unmanned aerial vehicle takes off from Balad Air Base, Iraq, a pilot at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., takes control of it. Images from the Predator’s camera are then fed to one of five distributed ground stations, or DGS, where intelligence imagery analysts can process them. Hickam AFB hosts the newest DGS. “The reach back capability that we represent is amazing,” said Tech. Sgt. Michael Henry. “The aircraft is actually flying in one country, we’re...