Las Vegans part of Marine force in Operation Iraqi Freedom

Dick Benoit

Thursday, May 1, 2003 | 8:33 a.m.

The Navy's Fleet Hometown News Center reports that at least three Marines with Las Vegas connections are participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom as members of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), based in Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Marine Maj. Albert Corchuelo, son of Martha and Luis Corchuelo of Las Vegas, Capt. Linda Philipp, daughter of Lydia and Robert Franzson of Las Vegas, and Lance Cpl. Nicholas Needham, son of Denise J. A. Needham of Las Vegas, are all members of the 24th MEU, which engaged enemy forces in Al Kut and conducted several successful convoy operations, including one containing 93 vehicles, and began a rebuilding process in the village of Hasham.

The unit also went to the town of Al Rifa, where it removed large berms put in place by the Iraqi soldiers. The unit is an expeditionary intervention force with the ability to rapidly organize for combat operations in virtually any environment.

MEUs are composed of more than 2,000 personnel and are divided into an infantry battalion, aircraft squadron, support group and command element. With this combination the unit supplies and sustains itself for quick mission accomplishment and for clearing the way for follow-on forces.

Honors for Nellis Honor Guard

Members of the Nellis Air Force Base Honor Guard were honored themselves in April when more than 200 people gathered at an appreciation luncheon for the group at the base Enlisted Club.

According to base spokeswoman Martine Ramos, the Nellis Honor Guard has served the community more than 800 times during the past year, including funerals of military members and veterans, and at civic, sports and social events.

Individuals singled out for special recognition included Airman 1st Class Dustin Virgil, Honor Guard Rookie of the Year; Senior Airman Adam Cronk, Honor Guard Airman of the Year; Senior Airman Keri Henderson, Honor Guard Trainer of the Year; and Senior Airman Justin Molluhan, Honor Guard Member of the year.

In brief

The five learned to assist Navy doctors and nurses in a variety of medical environments, from fleet hospitals and shipboard medical departments to fleet Marine forces and medical administration offices.