2nd LAR Apache Co.

From Friday August 27th to Monday August 30th the Marines & Gold Star Families of 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Bn executed a reunion aboard Camp Rotary in Neihart, MT. The Marines of 2nd LAR deployed to Fallujah, Iraq from September 2004 to April 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Apache company participated in Operation Al Fajr (Phantom Fury), the assault on the fortified enemy city of Fallujah and conducted follow on counter insurgency operations. Operation Phantom fury was the heaviest fighting the US military has participated in since Vietnam. They were integral in the success of retaking the city from well entrenched enemy forces. Throughout the reunion weekend, the Marines and Gold Star Families spent their days engaging in activities such as bean bag toss, hiking, and fishing. Their evenings were spent around bonfires while being entertained by live music provided by fellow Marine and recording artist Tyler Jay. 2nd LAR completed their service project assisting the Forest Service with equipment cleanup from the recent forest fires and prestaging materials for a bridge project.

"It was really helpful for a lot of us to understand and just see that all of us are going through our own battles and fighting our own zombies, but you come together like this and there's so much healing just being with one another and leaning on each other again."

"I remember arriving into the reunion site and within minutes reconnecting with guys I hadn't seen in 16 years. It was as if we were still in the same unit and saw each other yesterday."