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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. (March 6, 2006) -- It was an emotionally charged evening when more than 150 Marines and sailors from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, touched down on the flight line here and were greeted by their friends and families. HMM-161 returned from a seven-month long deployment to the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. The squadron arrived at Al Asad, Iraq, Aug. 5 and immediately went to work putting their aircraft together. In three weeks all of their aircraft were ready for operations. HMM-161 started flying missions in...

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq (Mar. 9, 2006) -- In what has become a familiar routine, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, passed responsibility for casualty evacuation and general aviation support missions in Iraq Feb. 25 to HMM-268, MAG-16, 3rd MAW, ending another successful deployment to the newly democratic nation. "I was amazed at how smoothly things had gone here considering the extra flights and maintenance required for the mission. We had no aircraft suffer a mechanical breakdown and saved over 400 lives," said Lt. Col. Robert M. Brassaw, commanding officer, HMM-161. "Not only did...

 HMM-161 fights for lives in IraqSubmitted by: 3d Marine Aircraft WingStory Identification Number: 20044107552Story by Sgt. Nathan K. LaForte AL TAQADDUM AIR BASE, Iraq (April 10, 2004) -- The two weary but light-hearted crew chiefs lounged around in the CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter that is referred to as a "Phrog." They were in "alert 30" status - meaning that if a call came, the helicopter would be in the air in under 30 minutes. One of the chiefs casually looked out the window to see their other pilot beating feet towards the chopper at breakneck speed. They just got...