Marines at CAMP DWYER, Helmand Province, Afghanistan Build Iwo Jima Memorial

Lance Cpl. William Byrne, left, and Cpl. David Belling, right, field artillery fire controlmen with Regimental Combat Team 3, originally stationed in Okinawa, Japan, built an Iwo Jima memorial at the RCT-3 compound to help motivate and lift the spirits of the Marines and Sailors stationed at Camp Dwyer, Helmand province, Islamic Province of Afghanistan. Photo by Lance Cpl. Daniel Flynn

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U.S. Marine Cpl. David Belling uses a saw aboard forward operating base Dwyer, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, July 21. Belling is a fire direction controlman with Regimental Combat Team – 3, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. RCT-3 is deployed in support of the NATO-International Security Alliance Forces counterinsurgency and Afghan national security forces mentoring mission in IRoA.

Marines Build Motivation With Recognizable Image
Story by Lance Cpl. Daniel Flynn 07.25.2009
CAMP DWYER, Helmand Province, Afghanistan
What is needed to get through a combat deployment? Some might say the answer is perseverance, determination and motivation.
Two Marines with Regimental Combat Team 3, deployed here from 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment based in Okinawa, Japan, have gone out of their way to help bring a little bit of motivation to their fellow Marines and Sailors.
Cpl. David Belling and Lance Cpl. William Byrne, field artillery fire control men with RCT-3, built a silhouetted Iwo Jima memorial at the RCT-3 compound here.
This particular memorial depicts one of the most recognizable photographs of World War II, taken by
Joe Rosenthal, of five Marines and one Navy corpsman raising the American flag atop Mount Suribachi on the fourth day of the Battle of Iwo Jima.

“I wanted to do what I could to help bring a little bit of motivation and help boost the morale of the Marines,” said Belling, who is nine months into his deployment.

They started working on the memorial July 20, and it took about eight hours to complete it.

We worked on the project because we wanted to inspire others by reminding everyone of the history of our Corps, Byrne said.

Throughout the process of building the memorial, Marines and Sailors approached the Marines, shaking their hands and telling them “good job.”

“The memorial just signifies what Marines are,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Gustavo Ortiz, the religious program specialist with RCT-3. “It is things like this that make it such a privilege to serve with Marines.”

In their efforts, Belling and Byrne have left an iconic image of pride and motivation so that those who travel past will remember the sacrifice Marines and Sailors have given.

Wild Thing’s comment……..
I love it, what a great idea.