MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Emily Dieruf gazed through tear-filled eyes at 18 helmets mounted on rifles. Dog tags dangled from each monument, representing servicemembers who served and died with the 1st Marine Division in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II.
"I have been looking forward to this memorial. This has brought a sense of closure for me," said Dieruf, widow of Cpl. Nicholas J. Dieruf, who died April 8, 2004, while serving with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division.
Dieruf was one of 420 Marines, soldiers, sailors and British soldiers memorialized May 26 at the 11 Area Parade Field after making the ultimate sacrifice fighting the war on terror.
"They were fathers, husbands some friends," said Maj. Gen. Richard F. Natonski, the division's commanding general. "They were ordinary people living ordinary lives, doing an extraordinary deed."
"We have a duty to remember them for two simple reasons," Natonski added. "We are always faithful these were honorable men who chose to serve their country."
The division recently returned after completing a yearlong deployment to Iraq, where its Marines served in the embattled Al Anbar province from March 2004 through March 2005.
Sgt. Maj. Wayne R. Bell, the division's top enlisted Marine, echoed words of appreciation for the fallen Marines while announcing the final roll call. The signature rifles and helmets represented 18 major units within the division. The dog tags denoted fallen servicemembers with the division to include the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Marine divisions, three U.S. Army units and a British Army unit attached to the 1st Marine Division while in Iraq.
"This memorial is great. All of the different military branches came here to show they care," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Kurt J. Ko, who was attached to the division's 11th Marine Regiment during OIF II."We wanted to include everyone who fought with us and died alongside us during this memorial," explained Bell.
"Each dog tag represented each fallen comrade. As heard during the final roll call some units had more than others," said Bell.
Several hundred people from inside and outside the Camp Pendleton community came to show their respects.
"God bless them, they fought for our freedom," said retired Gunnery Sgt. Anthony Arrum, 62, of Oceanside, a Vietnam veteran and a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
"It was nice to see the Marines who fought alongside my husband," said Dieruf, of Lexington, Ky., who wore a T-shirt featuring a picture of her husband and the words, "some gave all all gave some."
The 1st Marine Division is the oldest and most decorated division in the Marine Corps."I felt kind of honored to have been able to fight alongside these men, and sad at the same time because they are no longer with us," said Lance Cpl. Aaron R. Contreras, who recently returned from Iraq with 2nd Platoon, Company B, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion.
"Each of these Marines knew that every patrol they went on could be their last," said Contreras, 21, of Bullhead City, Ariz.
During OIF II, Marines and other servicemembers played a vital role in fighting the war on terrorism by conducting numerous raids, hundreds of "cordon-and-knock" operations and thousands of patrols and vehicle inspections.
The division's exploits included two costly offensives in Fallujah that for all practical purposes reclaimed the city from the grip of insurgents.
Marines in Iraq also delivered water, distributed medical supplies, renovated health clinics and water-treatment plants, rebuilt bridges, restored dozens of schools and distributed school supplies to thousands of Iraqi children.
"These men sacrificed all, did it all, and died," Natonski said.
"They fought heavy and they fought hard," said Bell. "I am proud of each and every one of them."