Front row from left, Brian Lautenslager, Daniel Young, Venessa Hernandez, Bobby Yarbrough and Manuel Martinez. Second row from left, Efren Lopez, Adrienne Burns, Christopher Lee Griffin and Kyle Ramirez. Back row from left, Patrick Ratcliff, Aj Lee, Ryan J. Courtade, Ben Hutto, Dave Sutherland, Sam Beyers and Justin Stumberg.
U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Channing Bergen, 19, from Waterloo, Wisc., and Sgt. Robert Cronk, 25, from Baroda, Mich., a rifleman and a combat engineer with 2nd Platoon, India Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, work to open a door for Afghan National Army soldiers searching shops for illegal drugs and improvised explosive device components during Operation Sandman here, Dec. 28. Safar Bazaar was once a hotbed for insurgents, its shops teeming with illegal drugs and streets laden with improvised explosive devices. Over the last two years, four Marine infantry battalions and their Afghan National Security Forces counterparts have labored to make it safe. Today, the buzzing bazaar is the commercial hub of southern Garmsir district. Thousands of Afghans from around the district travel to the bazaar each week to purchase goods. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Reece Lodder)
We as PJ’s and Photographers in or out of the service should be telling stories like this. Every veteran has at least one good story to tell. Search them out folks and capture them before they’re gone.
U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Phil Schiffman, a 22-year-old mortarman with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and native of Phoenix, waves to two Afghan men on a motorcycle after searching them at a vehicle checkpoint here, Dec. 1. During their seven-month deployment in Helmand province’s Garmsir district, the VCPs are a regular part of the mortarmen’s duty rotation, which also includes security patrols and standing post. Though they spend hours stopping vehicles and searching passersby, their presence isn’t merely a formality. The Marines are constantly on alert for anything out of the ordinary, especially information that can be used to locate and disrupt insurgent activity. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Reece Lodder)
DOD Photo of the Day: U.S. Marine Sgt. Jeremy Holsten greets children during a security patrol with Afghan soldiers in the Garmser district in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, Dec. 18, 2011. On the patrol, the troops interacted with residents and conducted a vehicle checkpoint. Holsten is a squad leader assigned to Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Reece Lodder)
The last U.S. military forces drive across the Iraqi border Dec. 18, 2011, following the Iraqi and U.S. security agreement requiring all U.S. service members to depart the country by Dec. 31, 2011. Since 2003, more than 1 million airmen, soldiers, sailors and Marines have served in Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)
Everyone is invited to join fellow 600th & 601st Photo Squadron, AAVS and Combat Camera friends for our 2011 Reunion in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
This reunion is primarily for members to enjoy getting together for camaraderie. It will be held at the Nativo Lodge in Albuquerque from September 22 – 24, 2011.
To confirm your attendance, please send a check for $125 per person to: Mario Candia, 2924 Northcreek Dr, Woodridge, IL 60517, no later than September l. Mario and Dee have offered to work with pre-registration and onsite registration for the reunion. Their email contacts are moc1candia@hotmail.com and dac2candia@hotmail.com and phone contact is 630-910-4765.
The cost of $125 per person will include a reception buffet on Thursday, Sept 22, breakfast on Friday and Saturday, Sept 23 & 24, and a sit down dinner on Saturday, Sept 24, as well as a meeting space and hospitality suite with refreshments throughout the reunion time.
To make your hotel reservation, please call the hotel directly at 1-888-628-4861 and identify yourself as being with the 600th & 601st Photo Squadron-AAVS-Combat Camera Veterans to get the rate of $75 plus tax for either a standard king or double room. You need to book your room by August 23 to get this rate.
There is complimentary parking at the hotel and the hotel will extend this discounted rate for arrival or departure (3) days pre/post event dates, based on availability.
The Nativo Lodge is conveniently located just off I-25, only 9 miles from Albuquerque International Airport, and near the Journal Business Center, Balloon Fiesta Park and Historic Old Town.
Hope to see you in Albuquerque on Thursday, September 22 – Saturday, September 24, 2011!
Reunion Website: http://600aavsphoto.blogspot.com/
Ron Marshall (505-410-2608)
Ken Hackman (818-763-4882)
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