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The banner photo is a Marine Corps photo taken at sea 02/05/2013 by 2nd Lt. Matthew W. Finnerty. Marines and sailors from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group conduct a visit, board, search and seizure exercise aboard the USS Winston Churchill (DDG 81) as part of Exercise Leading Edge 13, Feb. 5. The exercise is a multinational and interagency supported exercise designed to develop and refine weapons integration capabilities among partnering nations including suspect maritime material inspections, seizure and disposition. The 15th MEU is deployed as part of the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group as a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force, providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

The Bronze Star ceremony photo was taken  Feb. 15, 2013 by Lance Cpl. James Gulliver. Anna Stacey, sister of Sgt. William Stacey, holds her mother Robin Stacey in an embrace during a ceremony at the 5th Marine Regiment parade field here Feb. 15, 2013. Sergeant Stacey, a squad leader who served with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device for valor for his many acts of perseverance and courage during his deployment to Afghanistan in late 2011. In a letter written to his family just before he was killed in action in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 31, 2012, Sgt. Stacey said he was willing to give his life for the good of the people of Afghanistan and for his Marines.      

The photo accompanying "Marine meets daughter" is provided courtesy of the USMC. Staff Sgt. Luis A. Rogers, a Sunrise, Fla., native and utilities chief with Combat Logistics Battalion 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, holds his daughter, Emmali Grace, for the first time shortly after returning to Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 1, 2013. Emmali Grace was born Nov. 2, 2012, while Luis was deployed to Afghanistan supporting logistical operations.  

The photo accompanying "Marines vs. Surfers" was taken by Sgt. Christopher O'Quin on 2/13/2013. Marines with Amphibious Assault Vehicle Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, land their amphibious assault vehicle 7 as part of the final wave, during amphibious operations as part of Exercise Iron Fist 2013, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Feb. 13, 2013. During Exercise Iron Fist, the 13th MEU and members of Japan Ground Self Defense Force spent three weeks participating in bilateral training which improved their interoperability, enhanced military-to-military relations, and sharpened skills essential to crisis response.   

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