MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. - On Feb. 16, more than 170 Marines recently returned from a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan will visit 16 wounded warriors from their unit who had to be evacuated for injuries sustained in theatre.

The Marines of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, nicknamed "BlackIron," served three consecutive combat deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom over the past three years. The commanding officer, Capt. Paul Tremblay, realizes that not all wounds are physical and hopes visiting his wounded warriors will lift the spirits of the injured and ease the minds of the rest of his Marines who saw friends injured in combat. Tremblay also hopes to use the trip as a proof of concept for proper reintegration of combat veterans after returning from a combat deployment.

The "BlackIron" Marines will depart Camp Lejeune, N.C., on Feb. 15 and arrive at the National Museum of the Marine Corps at approximately 12 p.m. They will spend the remainder of the day touring the museum and discussing their combat experiences with students and staff at The Basic School.

On Feb. 16 the Marines will visit their wounded brethren at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., from 10:00 a.m., until 1 p.m. Before returning to Camp Lejeune, the "BlackIron" Marines will conduct a Purple Heart ceremony at the Marine Corps War Memorial, scheduled to take place from 2:15 p.m., until 3:15 p.m.

All scheduled events will be open to the media, with the exception of the visit to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Interested media should contact Cpl. Jahn R. Kuiper at 703-784-3341 or jahn.kuiper@usmc.mil or 1st Lt. Brian Villiard at 703-432-0289 or brian.villiard@usmc.mil.