Lt. Gen. Rex C. McMillian, commander of Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North, speaks during a commemorative ceremony at the National World War II Museum, Dec. 7, 2016, for the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The event honored the service members who were present during the fateful attack on Dec. 7, 1941. During World War II, by September of 1945, Reserve Marines made up 70 percent of total wartime Marine Corps personnel. For information on the history and heritage of the Marine Corps Reserve as well as current Marine stories and upcoming Centennial events, please visit www.marines.mil/usmcr100. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ian Leones) - Lt. Gen. Rex C. McMillian, commander of Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North, speaks during a commemorative ceremony at the National World War II Museum, Dec. 7, 2016, for the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The event honored the service members who were present during the fateful attack on Dec. 7, 1941. During World War II, by September of 1945, Reserve Marines made up 70 percent of total wartime Marine Corps personnel. For information on the history and heritage of the Marine Corps Reserve as well as current Marine stories and upcoming Centennial events, please visit www.marines.mil/usmcr100. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ian Leones)

Former Marine Cpl. Joshua Ploetz, makes his way to shore before beaing greeted by a crowd of Marines, sailors, veterans family members July 25, 2014, as he paddles closer to the end of his 2,575-mile journey down the Mississippi River, in New Orleans, July 25, 2014. Ploetz began his journey to raise awareness for post-traumatic stress May 19, at Lake Itasca Minn. - Former Marine Cpl. Joshua Ploetz, makes his way to shore before beaing greeted by a crowd of Marines, sailors, veterans family members July 25, 2014, as he paddles closer to the end of his 2,575-mile journey down the Mississippi River, in New Orleans, July 25, 2014. Ploetz began his journey to raise awareness for post-traumatic stress May 19, at Lake Itasca Minn.

(From left to right) Retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 James T. Averhart, the National President of Montford Point Marines Association, Lt. Gen. Richard P. Mills, the commander of Marine Forces Reserve, James A. Gray II, the New Orleans District E Councilman, Retired Master Gunnery Sgt. James Carr, the National Vice President for MPMA and Master Gunnery Sgt. Ronald C. Johnson, the Deputy Director of the host chapter for MPMA, gather for a photo after Feltus Sterling (bottom left) and D. K. Cooley (bottom right) were presented the Congressional Gold Medal at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, March 21, 2014. Sterling and Cooley are original Montford Point Marines that served when segregation laws of the 1940s prohibited African-American recruits to train at Camp Lejeune, N.C. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award conferred by Congress and is awarded to all original Montford Point Marines. Montford Point Marines Participated in the Pacific Theater Campaigns of World War II, including the Battle of Iwo Jima. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Codey Underwood) - (From left to right) Retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 James T. Averhart, the National President of Montford Point Marines Association, Lt. Gen. Richard P. Mills, the commander of Marine Forces Reserve, James A. Gray II, the New Orleans District E Councilman, Retired Master Gunnery Sgt. James Carr, the National Vice President for MPMA and Master Gunnery Sgt. Ronald C. Johnson, the Deputy Director of the host chapter for MPMA, gather for a photo after Feltus Sterling (bottom left) and D. K. Cooley (bottom right) were presented the Congressional Gold Medal at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, March 21, 2014. Sterling and Cooley are original Montford Point Marines that served when segregation laws of the 1940s prohibited African-American recruits to train at Camp Lejeune, N.C. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award conferred by Congress and is awarded to all original Montford Point Marines. Montford Point Marines Participated in the Pacific Theater Campaigns of World War II, including the Battle of Iwo Jima. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Codey Underwood)

Marines and sailors pose with Moreau and his roommate, Vietnam veteran and former Marine Lance Cpl. Robert Brunson, March 28, 2013. Marines and sailors volunteered to visit the home for the first time in 2011 after hearing that residents felt forgotten by their respective military branches. This is the second group to visit the home and more trips are being planned, said Beverly Boyd, MARFORRES protocol officer and organizer of the trip. - Marines and sailors pose with Moreau and his roommate, Vietnam veteran and former Marine Lance Cpl. Robert Brunson, March 28, 2013. Marines and sailors volunteered to visit the home for the first time in 2011 after hearing that residents felt forgotten by their respective military branches. This is the second group to visit the home and more trips are being planned, said Beverly Boyd, MARFORRES protocol officer and organizer of the trip.

About 25 World War II Iwo Jima veterans were in attendance at the 68th Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima luncheon ceremony at the Marine’s Memorial Hotel March 13, 2013. The event was an opportunity to accentuate the connection between the WWII-era 4th Marine Division with today's 4th Marine Division and Marine Forces Reserve. More than 100 veterans, modern Marines and guests were in attendance. - About 25 World War II Iwo Jima veterans were in attendance at the 68th Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima luncheon ceremony at the Marine’s Memorial Hotel March 13, 2013. The event was an opportunity to accentuate the connection between the WWII-era 4th Marine Division with today's 4th Marine Division and Marine Forces Reserve. More than 100 veterans, modern Marines and guests were in attendance.

Montford Point Marines Sgt. Riley A. McCray and Cpl. Lynn L. Williams are presented with the Congressional Gold Medal by Capt. Caitlin T. Ferrarell at a ceremony here Sept. 21. Ferrarell is the Inspector-Instructor for Detachment 2, Beach and Terminal Operations Company A, 4th Landing Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, in Concord, Calif. The pair earned the award by presidential order for being a few of the 22,000 African-American Marines to serve in the Corps between 1942 and 1949 during a time of common racism and segregation. Marine Reserve units from 22 states around the nation have been tasked to deliver 78 medals to Montford Point Marines who weren’t in attendance at the July ceremony in Washington, D.C. - Montford Point Marines Sgt. Riley A. McCray and Cpl. Lynn L. Williams are presented with the Congressional Gold Medal by Capt. Caitlin T. Ferrarell at a ceremony here Sept. 21. Ferrarell is the Inspector-Instructor for Detachment 2, Beach and Terminal Operations Company A, 4th Landing Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, in Concord, Calif. The pair earned the award by presidential order for being a few of the 22,000 African-American Marines to serve in the Corps between 1942 and 1949 during a time of common racism and segregation. Marine Reserve units from 22 states around the nation have been tasked to deliver 78 medals to Montford Point Marines who weren’t in attendance at the July ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Marines with Company B, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, out of Louisiana, unload thousands of pounds of illegal drugs from a vehicle during interdiction operations in southwestern Afghanistan, May 9. Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 and 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment supported efforts to disrupt the enemy's drug smuggling operations. Such missions have proven effective in disrupting the enemy's movement and limiting their finances from the illegal drug trade. - Marines with Company B, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, out of Louisiana, unload thousands of pounds of illegal drugs from a vehicle during interdiction operations in southwestern Afghanistan, May 9. Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 and 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment supported efforts to disrupt the enemy's drug smuggling operations. Such missions have proven effective in disrupting the enemy's movement and limiting their finances from the illegal drug trade.

A detail of high school students with Central Indiana Young Marines reenact the famous Mount Suribachi flag-raising during the First Annual Iwo Jima Memorial Service at the Indiana War Memorial Museum Feb. 23. Detachment 1, Communications Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group invited more than a dozen Iwo Jima Marine veterans from across Indiana to the event to honor their service on Iwo Jima. - A detail of high school students with Central Indiana Young Marines reenact the famous Mount Suribachi flag-raising during the First Annual Iwo Jima Memorial Service at the Indiana War Memorial Museum Feb. 23. Detachment 1, Communications Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group invited more than a dozen Iwo Jima Marine veterans from across Indiana to the event to honor their service on Iwo Jima.