MILITARY NEWS
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Joshua S. Durnell, son of Gail S. and Steven D. Durnell of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and more than 2100 Marines and Sailors assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), recently joined Iraqi Security Forces to provide security for elections in Najaf, Iraq.
Durnell’s unit’s primary mission was to sweep the city looking for suspicious activity and deter insurgents trying to disrupt voting. MEU’s are built around a reinforced infantry battalion, a combat service support element, a reinforced helicopter squadron and a command element.
With its complement of fully integrated air and ground forces, Durnell’s unit is ready to conduct real-world operations including amphibious, helicopter and boat raids, tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel, noncombatant evacuation operations and humanitarian assistance operations.
Durnell is a 2000 graduate of Wayne High School and joined the Marine Corps in May 2002.
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