WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCES MARINE TO RECEIVE MEDAL OF HONOR

The White House announced May 19 that Marine veteran Cpl. William "Kyle" Carpenter will receive the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Carpenter will receive the medal from President Barack Obama on June 19, and will be the eighth living recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. On Nov. 21, 2010, Taliban insurgents initiated an attack on Carpenter's squad, part of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment. Carpenter, the squad automatic rifleman for his fire team, and Lance Cpl. Nicholas Eufrazio were holding a rooftop security position when a hand grenade was thrown their way. Without hesitation, Carpenter reacted, rushing toward the grenade in an attempt to shield his brother-in-arms from its blast. The grenade detonated with Carpenter's body taking the majority of the blast. Carpenter suffered severe injuries from the blast. Much of his jaw was rebuilt and he lost his right eye; he sustained countless shattered bones throughout his body and a collapsed right lung. He endured a strenuous recovery process at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. After two and a half years, Carpenter was medically retired from the Marine Corps on July 30, 2013. "I look back and I'm actually very appreciative I had those two and a half years because those years put things in perspective more than a whole lifetime of things could if I wasn't there," Carpenter said. Read more

Medal of Honor Website

Cpl. Kyle Carpenter -- Just Getting Started: The White House announced May 19 that Marine veteran Cpl. William "Kyle" Carpenter will receive the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Carpenter will receive the medal from President Barack Obama, June 19, 2014. He will be the eighth living recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan.

MARINE AIRCRAFT 'READY TO GO' FOR POSSIBLE EVACUATION IN LIBYA

The Marine Corps has moved eight MV-22 Ospreys and 250 Marines to Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy to potentially evacuate Americans from the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, Libya, Marine Corps and Pentagon officials said. Continued violence in the region has prompted Saudi Arabia and Algeria to evacuate their embassies in Tripoli and led the U.S. military to take preparatory measures in the event that the State Department requests evacuation assistance for U.S. personnel. "This is about being on heightened alert and preparation," said Capt. Eric Flanagan, Marine Corps spokesman. "These moves will improve our capability to respond should the need arise. There is no request and no demand for a military operation at this time."  Read more

MARINE CORPS TESTS NEW FEMALE DRESS BLUE COAT

The Marine Corps is considering a recommendation to redesign the female officer and enlisted dress blue uniform to a style similar to the male dress blue coat with the traditional high collar. In the coming months, the Corps will expand its field-testing of a new female dress blue coat prototype. "Providing female Marines the opportunity to wear the most identifiable uniform in the Marine Corps would recognize their significant achievements on the battlefield over the last decade plus," said Col. Christian G. Cabaniss, commanding officer of Marine Barracks Washington. Following the testing period, results will be presented to the uniform board, which will consider the issue and provide a recommendation to the commandant.  Read more

CMC THANKS MARINES INVOLVED IN FIREFIGHTING EFFORTS

On May 18, Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos gave his personal thanks and congratulations to Marines and firefighters involved in the firefighting operations in San Diego County, San Diego, Calif. The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing dropped more than 540,000 gallons of water to assist with the firefighting efforts. At the time, the Tomahawk fire burned 5,400 acres and was 97 percent contained, the Las Pulgas fire burned 15,000 acres and was 55 percent contained, and the San Mateo Fire that burned 1,500 acres was 80 precent contained.  Read more

MARINES TEST NEW ENERGY-HARVESTING GEAR

The Marine Corps launched the Experimental Forward Operating Base '14 (ExFOB), a weeklong demonstration of the Corps' potential new and upcoming equipment, May 12-16. The ExFOB is part of Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos' Expeditionary Energy Strategy that was released in 2011. "In that strategy, he set a pretty aggressive goal," said Katie Hantson, Program Analyst with the Expeditionary Energy Office. "By 2025, Marines will be able to maneuver from the sea, conduct distributive operations, and the only fuel they would need is for vehicles." To achieve that goal, the Marine Corps is looking for ways to equip Marines with technology to reduce energy usage. Examples of waste energy include the exhaust or heat from a generator or a vehicle engine, kinetic energy from an individual, and solar power.  Read more

Watch: ExFOB '14: Warfighters Do More With Less

DOD: MARINES' MOVE WILL BOOST GUAM'S REVENUE BY $37M A YEAR

Defense officials say the relocation of U.S. Marines from Okinawa, Japan, will boost Guam's revenue by at least $37 million a year. The Joint Guam Program Office says the money will come from income taxes paid by 5,000 Marines who will move to Guam. The federal government remits servicemember income taxes to the territory in a lump sum each year. Joint Guam Program Office-Forward Deputy Director Maj. Darren Alvarez says this income tax revenue will peak at $62 million in 2021. Read more

MAY 22, 1912

First Lieutenant Alfred A. Cunningham, the first Marine officer to be assigned to "duty in connection with aviation" by Major General Commandant William P. Biddle, reported for aviation training at the Naval Aviation Camp at Annapolis, Maryland, and Marine aviation had its official beginning.

DEVIL DOG FOR A DAY: CLB-3, MAKE-A-WISH MAKE DREAM EXTRA SPECIAL

At the age of 13, "Corporal" Jared Kula reported for duty in front of Combat Logistics Battalion 3, May 14, 2014, to receive his very own set of cammies from Lt. Col. Justin R. Reiman, the unit's commanding officer. Kula was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis three years ago. Ulcerative colitis is a digestive condition in which the intestines are stricken with ulcers. Kula must undergo monthly infusions, avoid certain foods and take strong medication that his mother said people consider as intense as chemotherapy. Kula and his family visited the islands May 10 through 16, 2014, for a myriad of special activities, including a luau, private surfing lessons, and the fulfillment of his wish -- to visit Pearl Harbor. Kula has wanted to be a Marine like his mother for as long as he can remember, and got his chance through coordination by Make-A-Wish Foundation chapters and Marine Corps Base Hawaii personnel. Read more

The Corps Report Ep. 39: Balikatan 2014 and Bronze Star Awarded

In the words of Lt. Gen. Victor H. "Brute" Krulak, "The United States does not need a Marine Corps... the United States wants a Marine Corps." As America's Expeditionary Force in Readiness, the Marine Corps is deployed across the globe, standing ready to respond to any crisis. The Marine Corps Connection is your one-stop source for the latest Marine Corps news and is published weekly by the Division of Public Affairs at Headquarters Marine Corps. Stay connected to your Marines!