Cpl. Adam Culpepper, an anti-tank missileman with Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, greets his daughter at the annex parking lot, June 12, 2013. The “<a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Lava_Dogs" class="mw-redirect" title="Lava Dogs">Lava Dogs</a>” returned to Marine Corps Base Hawaii from their most recent deployment. “I’ve been waiting on this day since we left,” said the native of De Kalb, Texas. “(The deployment) was good. We went to a lot of different places and did a lot of different (activities).” More than 700 “Lava Dogs” deployed to Camp Schwab in Okinawa, Japan, for training and various exercises. Several of the companies traveled to other locations including Thailand and the Republic of Korea. “Sgt. Maj. (Daniel) Collins and I are tremendously proud of all the Marines and sailors of 1st Bn., 3rd Marines and what they were able to accomplish during this deployment,” said Lt. Col. Christopher O’Connor, commanding offi cer of 1st Bn., 3rd Marines. “Whether in Japan, Korea, or Thailand our young men performed as true professionals and left nothing but positive impressions as to the caliber of young Americans we have the honor to lead. In a time of uncertainty and change in mission focus, our battalion rose to the challenge and in true ‘Lava Dog’ fashion performed well above expectations.” (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Kristen Wong)
Kristen Wong
Taken on 12 June 2013
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