Highest-deployed Marine infantry regiment celebrates end to eight years of combat

Andrew Cece and Garrett Carnes

U.S. Marine Sgt. Maj. Andrew Cece (left), the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment sergeant major and a native of Sacramento, pushes the wheelchair of Cpl. Garrett Carnes, a squad leader with 3rd Platoon, India Company, 3/3, and 22-year-old native of Mooresville, N.C., to assist Carnes in presenting the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry battle streamer to regimental leadership during a 3rd Marines battle streamer rededication ceremony on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, May 24, 2012. Carnes lost his legs in an improvised explosive device attack Feb. 19 while supporting combat operations in the Khan Neshin district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province. The ceremony marked the end of eight years of combat deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq for 3rd Marines, and honored 116 Marines and sailors killed in action and hundreds more wounded there. During the ceremony, Marines presented the regiment’s 17 battle streamers to senior leadership for re-attachment to the 3rd Marines battle colors.

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