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Staff Sgt. Geoffrey McCurdy of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment entertains his 20-month-old daughter Emma before he leaves with his unit on a seven-month deployment to Iraq at Camp Pendleton Calif., Jan. 7. This will be his and his units third tour to Iraq. During the battalions's first deployment to Iraq, the unit participated in several combat engagements and conducted stability operations in southern Iraq. During November 2004, while deployed the second time, the battalion was one of the lead assault units during Operation Al Fajr, the joint operation that wrested the city of Fallujah from insurgent control.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Ray Lewis

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3/5 says farewell, heads to Iraq

7 Jan 2006 | Lance Cpl. Ray Lewis Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Before the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment stepped off to another deployment in Iraq, they got one last chance to bid farewell to their families in Camp San Mateo Jan. 7.It was early morning and the skies were blowing gusts of cold wind, but family members found it a reason to bundle up with their Marine or sailor.Staff Sgt. Geoffrey McCurdy, spent time with his wife and his 20-month-old daughter before he left.“I have to leave my family, which is not always easy, but it was a duty that I was sworn to uphold,” McCurdy said. “So as long as the Marine Corps needs me, I’ll be there.”Cpl. Jason Plank comforted his fiancé, assuring her that he would be fine.“I’ve (deployed) twice and this is the third time,” Plank said. “So I feel confident were going to succeed.” “It’s nerve-wracking but he’ll be fine,” said Chelse, Plank’s fiancé, holding her pet dog closely in a blanket.“The dog doesn’t like it either,” said Cpl. Plank’s mother Anna, as the dog hid under its blanket.Although the thought of being away from their loved ones wasn’t favorable, Operation Iraq Freedom veteran Staff Sgt. Raymond J. Plouhar said, “The job needs to be done.”“And we’re ready to kick butt,” said Pfc. George Pattis, on his first deployment.When the time came, Marines tried to keep their chins up while boarding the bus.Loved ones rushed to their service member stretching out the bus window, trying to get a last hug or kiss before they said goodbye to the Marines who would embark in yet another deployment.

Staff Sgt. Geoffrey McCurdy of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment entertains his 20-month-old daughter Emma before he leaves with his unit on a seven-month deployment to Iraq at Camp Pendleton Calif., Jan. 7. This will be his and his units third tour to Iraq. During the battalions's first deployment to Iraq, the unit participated in several combat engagements and conducted stability operations in southern Iraq. During November 2004, while deployed the second time, the battalion was one of the lead assault units during Operation Al Fajr, the joint operation that wrested the city of Fallujah from insurgent control.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Ray Lewis

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Details

3/5 says farewell, heads to Iraq

7 Jan 2006 | Lance Cpl. Ray Lewis Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

PRINT

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Before the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment stepped off to another deployment in Iraq, they got one last chance to bid farewell to their families in Camp San Mateo Jan. 7.It was early morning and the skies were blowing gusts of cold wind, but family members found it a reason to bundle up with their Marine or sailor.Staff Sgt. Geoffrey McCurdy, spent time with his wife and his 20-month-old daughter before he left.“I have to leave my family, which is not always easy, but it was a duty that I was sworn to uphold,” McCurdy said. “So as long as the Marine Corps needs me, I’ll be there.”Cpl. Jason Plank comforted his fiancé, assuring her that he would be fine.“I’ve (deployed) twice and this is the third time,” Plank said. “So I feel confident were going to succeed.” “It’s nerve-wracking but he’ll be fine,” said Chelse, Plank’s fiancé, holding her pet dog closely in a blanket.“The dog doesn’t like it either,” said Cpl. Plank’s mother Anna, as the dog hid under its blanket.Although the thought of being away from their loved ones wasn’t favorable, Operation Iraq Freedom veteran Staff Sgt. Raymond J. Plouhar said, “The job needs to be done.”“And we’re ready to kick butt,” said Pfc. George Pattis, on his first deployment.When the time came, Marines tried to keep their chins up while boarding the bus.Loved ones rushed to their service member stretching out the bus window, trying to get a last hug or kiss before they said goodbye to the Marines who would embark in yet another deployment.