iii marine expeditionary force and marine corps installations pacific
www.mcipac.marines.mil
september 20, 2013
3rd Marine Division celebrates 71 years Lance Cpl. Stephen D. Himes okinawa marine staff
CAMP COURTNEY — The 3rd Marine Division celebrated its 71st birthday Sept. 16 at a ceremony on Camp Courtney. “The history of this division is
rich and amazing,” said Sgt. Maj. Paul McKenna, the 3rd Marine Division sergeant major. “By reserving a few moments once a year to honor the service and sacrifice of those who came before us, reminds us that what you do today will not be forgotten.”
Officially activated Sept. 16, 1942, the 3rd Marine Division was stationed at Camp Elliott, San Diego, Calif. The division was soon ordered to Guadalcanal where its training intensified as it prepared for the Battle of Bougainville. This train-
ing helped the division during the two months it spent battling for ground against heavy enemy resistance. The battle-tested 3rd Marine Division went on to participate in other crucial World War II Pacific see BIRTHDAY pg 5
Pacific Resilience concludes in Nepal 1st Lt. Jeremy Alexander okinawa marine staff
KATMANDU, Nepal — Marines and sailors of III Marine Expeditionary Force participated in the closing ceremony of Pacific Resilience Disaster Response Exercise and Exchange Sept. 12 in Katmandu, Nepal. During the exercise, which took place Sept. 9-12, participants were able to further common emergency preparedness, response and recovery goals through academic sessions and field-training activities at the Nepal Army Headquarters and various sites throughout Katmandu to put these goals into practice. In the exercise, the U.S. military, acting as Joint Task Force 505, at the request of the government of Nepal and as see NEPAL pg 5
U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Paul Kennedy, left, greets Nepalese Army Lt. Gen. Netra Behadur Thapa at the closing ceremony of the Pacific Resilience Disaster Response Exercise and Exchange Sept. 12. Thapa is the acting chief of Army staff. Kennedy is the deputy commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force and commanding general of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. Photo by 1st Lt. Jeremy Alexander
Doctors, medical students visit USNH Okinawa Lance Cpl. Natalie M. Rostran okinawa marine staff
Lt. Cmdr. Gene Sherrod, far left, gives visiting students and physicians from the University of the Ryukyus a tour of the intensive care unit Sept. 12 at U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa on Camp Foster. Sherrod is the ICU department head at USNH Okinawa.
in this issue
Photo by Lance Cpl. Natalie M. Rostran
CAMP FOSTER — Physicians and medical students from the University of the Ryukyus University Hospital visited U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa Sept. 12 at Camp Foster. The purpose of the visit was to familiarize the members of the university with the medical practices of the hospital and provided tour the facility. The day began with a presentation that introduced the visitors to the Marine Corps’ operational structure. The brief also discussed the role of III Marine Expeditionary Force during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations along with the volunteer work and community relations of III MEF and Marine Corps Installations Pacific personnel. see RYUKYUS pg 5
commandant delivers message about future corps
iii mef band and jgsdf band perform combined coNcerT
students honor those affected by sept. 11
Pg. 3
Pg. 6-7
Pg. 10
for weekly buffets at MCCS clubs!