Marine unit returns to Missouri

Marine Corps Cpl. Brandon J. Patrick, whose wife, Courtney, is the daughter of Cheryl Baker of Charleston, Mo., and Rick Barfield of Jefferson City, Mo., along with fellow Marines and sailors of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, Marine Corps Base, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, recently completed a seven-month deployment to Al Anbar province, Iraq. The "Island Warriors" performed security operations in the regions of Karma and Zaidon as well as conducting partnered operations with Iraqi Security Forces. As part of the operations, the Marines lived with and taught the Iraqi police and provincial security forces on professionalism in preparation to become an independent force. Additionally, the battalion carried out more than $10 million in civil military projects from repairing schools and clinics, to paving roads and rebuilding bridges.