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    Marines build motivation with recognizable image

    Marines build motivation with recognizable image

    Photo By Cpl. Daniel Flynn | Lance Cpl. William Byrne, left, and Cpl. David Belling, right, field artillery fire...... read more read more

    CAMP DWYER, AFGHANISTAN

    07.25.2009

    Story by Cpl. Daniel Flynn 

    I Marine Expeditionary Force

    CAMP DWYER, Helmand Province, Afghanistan — What is needed to get through a combat deployment? Some might say the answer is perseverance, determination and motivation.

    Two Marines with Regimental Combat Team 3, deployed here from 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment based in Okinawa, Japan, have gone out of their way to help bring a little bit of motivation to their fellow Marines and Sailors.

    Cpl. David Belling and Lance Cpl. William Byrne, field artillery fire control men with RCT-3, built a silhouetted Iwo Jima memorial at the RCT-3 compound here.

    This particular memorial depicts one of the most recognizable photographs of World War II, taken by Joe Rosenthal, of five Marines and one Navy corpsman raising the American flag atop Mount Suribachi on the fourth day of the Battle of Iwo Jima.

    "I wanted to do what I could to help bring a little bit of motivation and help boost the morale of the Marines," said Belling, who is nine months into his deployment.

    They started working on the memorial July 20, and it took about eight hours to complete it.

    We worked on the project because we wanted to inspire others by reminding everyone of the history of our Corps, Byrne said.

    Throughout the process of building the memorial, Marines and Sailors approached the Marines, shaking their hands and telling them "good job."

    "The memorial just signifies what Marines are," said Petty Officer 1st Class Gustavo Ortiz, the religious program specialist with RCT-3. "It is things like this that make it such a privilege to serve with Marines."

    In their efforts, Belling and Byrne have left an iconic image of pride and motivation so that those who travel past will remember the sacrifice Marines and Sailors have given.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 07.25.2009
    Date Posted: 07.25.2009 11:43
    Story ID: 36811
    Location: CAMP DWYER, AF

    Web Views: 429
    Downloads: 365

    PUBLIC DOMAIN