to return and vote in district council elections for the first time in history. Echo, Fox and Golf companies also accomplished another first, establishing a police station in another strategically located village where none had existed before. Weapons Company and Golf Company made significant strides engaging locals in Now Zad to help spur Afghan police force growth and improve security. Last but not least, H&S Company supported the retrograde by shipping 25 ISO containers of equipment back to Camp Leatherneck. The battalion returned to Camp Pendleton in April 2012 and had a change of command ceremony in June 2012. In late May 2013, 2/4 deployed to Okinawa, Japan, as a Battalion Landing Team (BLT) as part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. In late June 2013, BLT 2/4 embarked on ships from Task Force 76 and began a three-month patrol in the Western Pacific Ocean. During the patrol, BLT 2/4 participated in two major exercises in Australia: Exercise Talisman Sabre in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area and Exercise Koolendong in the Bradshaw Field Training Area. BLT 2/4 returned to Okinawa in late September and redeployed to Camp Pendleton in November 2013. In January 2014, Marines and Sailors of 2/4's Fox, Weapons, and Headquarters and Service Companies traveled to Singapore to conduct bilateral training with Singapore Guardsmen. During the exercise they participated in live-fire training, conditioning hikes, and exchanged tactics. In June 2014, Marines with 2/4 and 2/7 conducted fast-rope and rappel training during a two-and-a-half-week Helicopter Rope Suspension Technique course aboard Camp Pendleton. In July 2014, 2/4 participated in a Battalion Field Exercise at the Infantry Immersion Trainer (IIT) aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. During the exercise, Marines conducted patrols through urban terrain provided by the IIT. 2/4 Medal of Honor recipients Lance Corporal Joe C. Paul Captain Howard V. Lee Sergeant Paul Hellstrom Foster Lance Corporal Jedh Colby Barker Captain James E. Livingston Captain Jay R. Vargas Notable former members Hank Bauer, served in G Company during World War II Chesty Puller, served as Battalion XO and then CO Lyle H. Miller, commanded the Battalion in 1932-1933 James Mattis, served as a rifle and weapons platoon commander Robert Mueller, served in H Company during the Vietnam War Foster LaHue, commanded the Battalion in 1957-59 Carl Epting Mundy Jr., Commanding Officer Unit awards A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited.