Army Staff Sergeant Michael H. Simpson. 1 MAY 2013.

Died in Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit on April 27, with an improvised explosive device in Arian, Afghanistan. Simpson was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. 

The grit gets everywhere.

A Marine Special Operations Team member assists with security while Afghan National Army Special Forces Soldiers and MSOT members speak with possible Afghan Local Police candidates in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Afghan Local Police complement counterinsurgency efforts by assisting and supporting rural areas with limited Afghan National Security Forces presence, in order to enable conditions for improved security, governance and development.

(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau, 4 APR 2013.)

Standing sentry. Wilbur, a Marine Special Operations Team member, maintains security from a field near an over watch for Afghan National Army Special Forces helping Afghan Local Police build a checkpoint in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Afghan Local Police complement counterinsurgency efforts by assisting and supporting rural areas with limited Afghan National Security Forces presence, in order to enable conditions for improved security, governance and development. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau, 3 APR 2013.) High-res

Standing sentry.

Wilbur, a Marine Special Operations Team member, maintains security from a field near an over watch for Afghan National Army Special Forces helping Afghan Local Police build a checkpoint in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Afghan Local Police complement counterinsurgency efforts by assisting and supporting rural areas with limited Afghan National Security Forces presence, in order to enable conditions for improved security, governance and development.

(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau, 3 APR 2013.)

Late Night Nookie #soldierporn: Night watch.

US Marine Special Operations Team members assist with security concerns during the construction of a checkpoint for ALP forces in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

(Photos by Sergeant Pete Thibodeau, 30 MAR 2013.)

[Gorgeous photography, yet again. May this man never put down his camera. -R]

The ghosts of Spartans walk among us, welcome. A Marine Special Operations Team member checks a training area during night fire sustainment training in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Marine Special Operations Team members are deployed in Helmand province to train and mentor Afghan National Security Forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau, 28 MAR 2013.) High-res

The ghosts of Spartans walk among us, welcome.

A Marine Special Operations Team member checks a training area during night fire sustainment training in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Marine Special Operations Team members are deployed in Helmand province to train and mentor Afghan National Security Forces.

(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau, 28 MAR 2013.)

Evening Quickie #soldierporn: John and his warthog. A Marine Special Operations Team member fires a M240B machine gun during night fire sustainment training in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Marine Special Operations Team members are deployed in Helmand province to train and mentor Afghan National Security Forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau, 28 MAR 2013.) High-res

Evening Quickie #soldierporn: John and his warthog.

A Marine Special Operations Team member fires a M240B machine gun during night fire sustainment training in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Marine Special Operations Team members are deployed in Helmand province to train and mentor Afghan National Security Forces.

(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau, 28 MAR 2013.)

SOLDIER STORIES: A solid tradition wherein uncommon valor is common. JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD— I Corps commanding general, Lt. Gen. Robert Brown, pins the Silver Star to the uniform of Sgt. Peter Cimpoes, formerly of the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment during a special ceremony at Saint Martin’s Marcus Pavilion, Lacey, Washington. Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, were presented two Silver Stars, seven Bronze Star Medals with “V” device for Valor, 11 Purple Hearts, four Army Commendation Medals with “V” Device for Valor and a Joint Service Commendation Medal with “V” device, during the ceremony. (Photo by Staff Sgt. David Chapman, 5th MPAD, 20 MAR 2013. Source.) High-res

SOLDIER STORIES: A solid tradition wherein uncommon valor is common.

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD— I Corps commanding general, Lt. Gen. Robert Brown, pins the Silver Star to the uniform of Sgt. Peter Cimpoes, formerly of the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment during a special ceremony at Saint Martin’s Marcus Pavilion, Lacey, Washington.

Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, were presented two Silver Stars, seven Bronze Star Medals with “V” device for Valor, 11 Purple Hearts, four Army Commendation Medals with “V” Device for Valor and a Joint Service Commendation Medal with “V” device, during the ceremony.

(Photo by Staff Sgt. David Chapman, 5th MPAD, 20 MAR 2013. Source.)

For whatever a man’s actions are, such must be his spirit. An Afghan and coalition security force provide security after an operation in Nad ‘Ali district, Helmand province, Afghanistan. The operation led to the arrest of a Taliban leader who was an improvised explosive device (IED) specialist. He was responsible for the procurement, construction, and distribution of IEDs and other forms of lethal aid to Taliban leaders operating in the Nad ‘Ali district. He oversaw the acquisition and delivery of heavy weapons to Taliban insurgents for use in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. (Photo by Sgt. Richard W. Jones Jr, 3 FEB 2013.) [Demosthenes (384 BC - 322 BC), Third Olynthiac] High-res

For whatever a man’s actions are, such must be his spirit.

An Afghan and coalition security force provide security after an operation in Nad ‘Ali district, Helmand province, Afghanistan. The operation led to the arrest of a Taliban leader who was an improvised explosive device (IED) specialist. He was responsible for the procurement, construction, and distribution of IEDs and other forms of lethal aid to Taliban leaders operating in the Nad ‘Ali district. He oversaw the acquisition and delivery of heavy weapons to Taliban insurgents for use in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

(Photo by Sgt. Richard W. Jones Jr, 3 FEB 2013.)

[Demosthenes (384 BC - 322 BC), Third Olynthiac]

Death makes a good dance instructor.

Coalition soldiers participate in advance marksmanship training at a firing range to maintain skills on Forward Operating Base Bastion, Helmand province, Afghanistan.

(Photos by Sgt. Richard W. Jones Jr, 18 JAN 2013.)

Five tours, one tour too many. Army Sergeant Joel D. Clarkson. 16 MAR 2010. Died in Landstuhl, Germany of wounds sustained on 13 MAR 2010 while engaging heavily armed enemy forces in Farah province, Afghanistan. Clarkson was on his fifth deployment with 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. do-or-die-ydg: On this date: March 16, 2010 – Sgt. Joel David Clarkson, 23, was a team leader assigned to 2d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Clarkson was seriously wounded during a fierce direct-fire combat engagement against a heavily armed and determined enemy in Farah Province, Afghanistan, March 13. He was treated by unit medics, immediately evacuated to the nearest medical treatment facility and subsequently transferred to Landstuhl Regional Hospital, Landstuhl, Germany where he died March 16. He was on his fifth deployment in support of the War on Terror with three previous deployments to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” John F. Kennedy Rangers Lead the Way! RIP Warrior! [Requiesce, scies pace. -R]

Five tours, one tour too many.

Army Sergeant Joel D. Clarkson. 16 MAR 2010.

Died in Landstuhl, Germany of wounds sustained on 13 MAR 2010 while engaging heavily armed enemy forces in Farah province, Afghanistan. Clarkson was on his fifth deployment with 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

do-or-die-ydg:

On this date: March 16, 2010 – Sgt. Joel David Clarkson, 23, was a team leader assigned to 2d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Clarkson was seriously wounded during a fierce direct-fire combat engagement against a heavily armed and determined enemy in Farah Province, Afghanistan, March 13. He was treated by unit medics, immediately evacuated to the nearest medical treatment facility and subsequently transferred to Landstuhl Regional Hospital, Landstuhl, Germany where he died March 16. He was on his fifth deployment in support of the War on Terror with three previous deployments to Iraq and one to Afghanistan.

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” John F. Kennedy

Rangers Lead the Way!

RIP Warrior!

[Requiesce, scies pace. -R]

(via sapper-mike)