Combat Engineer Keeps Up With Peers Despite Age [Image 3 of 3]

TAQADDUM, IRAQ

09.01.2006

Photo by Cpl. Ryan Tomlinson 

1st Marine Logistics Group

On Sept. 1, 2006, a member of the rear security element, 1st Platoon, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Fwd), Corporal Jason H. Gerstner, poses with a photo of his 8-year old son in front of a tactical vehicle known as the "Husky" used in road clearance operations in the Al Anbar Province. Trading a full-time job in an American metropolitan area for an around-the-clock job in a combat zone, and leaving behind regular visits with an 8-year old son for a year-long absence, Gerstner, joined the Marine Corps in the middle of his life, at age 28. After a year stationed at Okinawa, Japan, and a 7-month deployment in Iraq, Gerstner is going back to his hometown of Irwin, Pa., to see his son for the first time in over a year and a half. "I can't wait until I get back home to see my son," said Gerstner, adding that because of the deployment his father helped his son pick out new sports equipment. "My son is looking forward to me coming home," he said with excitement. "When I come home, he will be starting his football season." This season Gerstner and his son could buy football cleats together. 1st Platoon, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group is deployed with I MEF (FWD) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq (MNF-W) to develop the Iraqi Security Forces, facilitate the development of official rule of law through democratic government reforms, and continue the development of a market based economy centered on Iraqi Reconstruction. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Ryan L. Tomlinson)

• Date Taken: 09.01.2006
• Date Posted: 09.20.2006 08:11
• Photo ID: 30258
• VIRIN: 060901-M-6065T-003
• Resolution: 2160x1566
• Size: 3.17 MB
• Location: TAQADDUM, IQ