• A Marine with third platoon, Company L, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, patrols his neighborhood in Fallujah's Nazaal district, Nov. 6. The leathernecks with third platoon moved into a house soon after they arrived in country and began assimilating into the neighborhood. This increased proximity to ordinary Iraqi folks in the city has brought them to the point of inclusion in the community.  Photo by: Sgt. Stephen M. DeBoard

Today is the 232^nd birthday of the United States Marine Corps.  All over the world, wherever Marines gather, they will enjoy a moment of remembrance and celebration.  The first piece of cake goes to the oldest Marine present and the second to the youngest.  As these Marines worldwide attend their birthday balls in the finest uniforms in the US military, we remember them and all those that have gone before. Rather than show someone cutting the cake, we wanted to highlight the Marines currently deployed.

My personal birthday wishes go out to three great Marines: my last two supervisors in the Pentagon, Colonels Matt C. and Colonel “Keen,” both currently commanding Marines who will soon go in harms way themselves and my cousin Luke, an infantry officer with two tours in Iraq, now teaching young Marines tactics before they deploy.

Excalibur wishes Marines everywhere a happy and safe 232^nd birthday!  OOORAH!