Retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Skip Curtis served from January 1965 to July 1996 as a pilot. Curtis deployed to South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Throughout his time in Vietnam, Curtis, a Temple, Pennsylvania, native, said what kept him going was letters from his wife, which at the time took 10 days to receive. During his last flight in Vietnam he earned his second Purple Heart after he and his crew we shot down. - Retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Skip Curtis served from January 1965 to July 1996 as a pilot. Curtis deployed to South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Throughout his time in Vietnam, Curtis, a Temple, Pennsylvania, native, said what kept him going was letters from his wife, which at the time took 10 days to receive. During his last flight in Vietnam he earned his second Purple Heart after he and his crew we shot down.

U.S. Marine Cpl. Alexandra Nowak, an administrative specialist with Alpha Company, Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, listens to Brig. Gen. Dan Conley, the commanding general for MCI-West, MCB Camp Pendleton, speak after he awarded her the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal on Camp Pendleton, California, Nov. 6, 2019. Nowak received the award for her actions to save a family after a car crash on Interstate Highway 15. Nowak is a native of Forney, Texas. - U.S. Marine Cpl. Alexandra Nowak, an administrative specialist with Alpha Company, Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, listens to Brig. Gen. Dan Conley, the commanding general for MCI-West, MCB Camp Pendleton, speak after he awarded her the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal on Camp Pendleton, California, Nov. 6, 2019. Nowak received the award for her actions to save a family after a car crash on Interstate Highway 15. Nowak is a native of Forney, Texas.

A Joint Light Tactical Vehicle displays its ability to handle multiple terrain types by physically adjusting its suspension during a demonstration at the School of Infantry West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Feb. 27, 2019. Marines are able to adjust multiple drive settings of the JLTV by selecting options on an internal LCD. These settings affect how the vehicle drives in sandy, muddy, snowy or highway road conditions. The JLTV consists of multiple platforms capable of completing a variety of missions while providing increased protection and mobility for personnel across the Marine Corps. - A Joint Light Tactical Vehicle displays its ability to handle multiple terrain types by physically adjusting its suspension during a demonstration at the School of Infantry West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Feb. 27, 2019. Marines are able to adjust multiple drive settings of the JLTV by selecting options on an internal LCD. These settings affect how the vehicle drives in sandy, muddy, snowy or highway road conditions. The JLTV consists of multiple platforms capable of completing a variety of missions while providing increased protection and mobility for personnel across the Marine Corps.

Firefighters with Oceanside Fire Department and the Camp Pendleton Fire Department initiate prescribed burns at Ranges 108 and 109 on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, June 12, 2019. The CPFD encounters several wildfires each year. Prescribed burns are one of the many methods used to mitigate the unwanted spread of wildfires on the installation. - Firefighters with Oceanside Fire Department and the Camp Pendleton Fire Department initiate prescribed burns at Ranges 108 and 109 on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, June 12, 2019. The CPFD encounters several wildfires each year. Prescribed burns are one of the many methods used to mitigate the unwanted spread of wildfires on the installation.

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton hosts the annual Environmental Law Training Symposium - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Joseph D. Williams, chief of staff, Marine Corps Installations-West (MCI-W), discusses the command’s Environmental Security Program with the California Energy Compliance Agency during an Environmental Law Training Symposium at the Pacific Views Event Center, MCB Camp Pendleton, California, March 19, 2019. Since 1994, the Western Area Counsel Office has hosted an Environmental Law Training Symposium to provide updates in environmental and land use law, regulations, and policies. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Emmanuel Necoechea)

U.S. Marines with Bridge Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, and contractors with Facilities Maintenance Department, Marine Corps Installations West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, receive “thank you” letters from students at Santa Margarita Elementary School on MCB Camp Pendleton, California, March 18, 2019. The students of the elementary school wrote personal “thank you” letters to the Marines and contractors for building a bridge over and repairing a sinkhole in Carnes Road that resulted in the evacuation and temporary closing of the school on Feb. 4. The sinkhole was caused by erosion resulting from persistent heavy rain storms that swept through Southern California. - U.S. Marines with Bridge Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, and contractors with Facilities Maintenance Department, Marine Corps Installations West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, receive “thank you” letters from students at Santa Margarita Elementary School on MCB Camp Pendleton, California, March 18, 2019. The students of the elementary school wrote personal “thank you” letters to the Marines and contractors for building a bridge over and repairing a sinkhole in Carnes Road that resulted in the evacuation and temporary closing of the school on Feb. 4. The sinkhole was caused by erosion resulting from persistent heavy rain storms that swept through Southern California.

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Robert Twineham, operations manager with Industrial Waste Utilization, labels hazardous waste drums at the Marine Wing Support Squadron-372 60 day hazardous material storage site at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 23, 2019. Twineham was preparing the hazardous waste for transport form the site to a waste management facility where it would be recycled. - Robert Twineham, operations manager with Industrial Waste Utilization, labels hazardous waste drums at the Marine Wing Support Squadron-372 60 day hazardous material storage site at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 23, 2019. Twineham was preparing the hazardous waste for transport form the site to a waste management facility where it would be recycled.

MCTSSA Marine rushes to aid car crash victim - Brig. Gen. A.J. (left) Pasagian, commander of Marine Corps Systems Command, presents Capt. Michael Bates (right), a Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity Marine, with the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal at MCTSSA headquarters Sept. 12, for life-saving actions he took while off-duty this summer near Knoxville, Tennessee. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sky M. Laron)

MCTSSA personnel welcomes Vietnam veterans, share legacy - Staff Sgt. Jedidiah Seiler, Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity radar staff noncommissioned-officer-in-charge, discusses air search radar capabilities during a Vietnam veterans’ tour of MCTSSA this summer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sky M. Laron)

Recovering service members, veterans, volunteers and their loved ones prepare for a group photo during the 12th Annual Operation Amped Surf Camp at San Onofre Beach at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Aug. 18, 2018. Operation Amped is a nonprofit organization that supports wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans throughout their recovery. - Recovering service members, veterans, volunteers and their loved ones prepare for a group photo during the 12th Annual Operation Amped Surf Camp at San Onofre Beach at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Aug. 18, 2018. Operation Amped is a nonprofit organization that supports wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans throughout their recovery.

3rd MAW supports firefighting operations at Camp Pendleton - Marines with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 267 and HMLA-169, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, conduct water bucket drops over a brush fire in support of firefighting operations at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 6. The “Pendleton Complex,” consisting of three separate fires, burned nearly 2,000 acres. In all, six aircraft from 3rd MAW conducted nearly 250 water drops over two separate fires in 30 hours. (Courtesy Photo)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Michael Captain, boxing team co-captain, 1st Marine Division. The Marines are scheduled to compete in boxing contests against the Royal Marines May 3, 2018 at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines in Lympstone, England, and May 8, 2018 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, England. - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Michael Captain, boxing team co-captain, 1st Marine Division. The Marines are scheduled to compete in boxing contests against the Royal Marines May 3, 2018 at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines in Lympstone, England, and May 8, 2018 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, England.