On the morning of April 22, 2008, Lance Corporal Jordan C. Haerter and Corporal Jonathan T. Yale stood watch at the entrance to Joint Security Station Nasser in Ramadi, Iraq. They came from different places and belonged to different battalions.

Commemorative composite artwork honoring Gordon and Shughart. The lower rescue scene is a dramatized depiction, not a documentary photograph of their final stand. October 3, 1993, remains a painful date in American military history. In Mogadishu, Somalia, a mission to capture senior associates of warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid became a prolonged battle after two American Black Hawk helicopters were shot down. Among those who fought that day were Master Sgt. Gary Gordon and Sgt.

Remember fallen Marines of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines through official accounts of their service, character, and sacrifice in Afghanistan.

Honor Sgt. Nicole L. Gee’s service and sacrifice during the August 2021 Kabul evacuation, using the official II Marine Expeditionary Force record.

Remember Master Sgt. Gary Gordon and Sgt. 1st Class Randall Shughart through their official Medal of Honor citations and the story behind their tribute bracelet.

Honor 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines’ 2008 Afghanistan deployment through official accounts of battlefield courage and remembrance of the fallen.

Yanky 72 memorial information — DVIDS On July 10, 2017, a profound tragedy shook the United States military and echoed across the nation. A U.S. Marine Corps KC-130T aircraft, carrying the call sign Yanky 72, suffered a catastrophic mid-air malfunction over Leflore County, Mississippi. The crash claimed the lives of all 16 elite service members on board. The flight carried nine crew members from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 452 (VMGR-452) and seven passengers fro

Every year, the 4th of July reminds us what freedom looks like. Flags go up. Families gather. Fireworks light the sky. People wear red, white, and blue, and for one day the whole country remembers that freedom is something worth celebrating.

In Memory of the Crew of Loosefoot 616 On August 31, 2021, the United States Navy lost five exceptional Sailors when an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Eight (HSC-8), callsign "Loosefoot 616," crashed into the Pacific Ocean while operating from the aircraft…

The Mission Behind ZEUS95 The KC-135 Stratotanker is a vital asset in global air operations. To many, it may look like just another aircraft, but its role is critical. Tanker crews extend the reach of combat and support aircraft by refueling them mid-flight. This capability allows missions to continue without interruption and helps keep service members safe. ZEUS95 was a mission built on responsibility, precision, and commitment. The crew operated in demanding conditions, oft

On June 27, 2023, the world lost a brave warrior who gave everything in service to a cause greater than himself. Corporal Ian Tortorici of the United States Marine Corps was killed in action in Ukraine, answering a call that crossed borders and boundaries. His story is one of courage, brotherhood, and sacrifice that deserves to be remembered and honored. This post reflects on the life and legacy of CPL Ian Tortorici, a Marine who stood tall in the face of danger and whose sac

Collin Lee Teem was more than a Marine. He was a son, a brother-in-arms, and a man who believed deeply in standing up for freedom wherever it was threatened. Though his life was cut tragically short at just 23 years old, the legacy he leaves behind continues to inspire those who knew him and even those who never had the honor to meet him. Born and raised in South Carolina, Collin carried the values of courage, loyalty, and sacrifice from an early age. Those qualities led him