Marine History Operations in Iraq Operation Iraqi Freedom I PCN ...

eflected great credit upon themselves and upheld the highest traditions of the
United States Naval Service.
As America continues to prosecute the war on terrorism, two historians have
moved on to command artillery and reconnaissance units in the Marine Corps Reserves
and are either preparing to deploy or are currently serving abroad. Others have again
returned to active duty at the Marine Corps Historical Center, some from retirement, to
accomplish tasks ranging from the writing of monographs to documenting ongoing
operations in Afghanistan, Haiti, and Iraq. We also have several new historians, one
recently demobilized after having fought his way to Baghdad as part of the 4th Light
Armored Reconnaissance battalion. One of those returning historians is Lieutenant
Colonel Nathan S. Lowrey charged with creating this guide to the material collected
during the first phase of OIF.
Lieutenant Colonel Lowrey, and infantry officer, attended the University of
Maine before being commissioned in the Marine Corps in 1985. He subsequently joined
3d Battalion, 4th Marines at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and was deployed to Panama
during Operation Just Cause. In 1991, following a successful tour at Recruiting Station
Portland, Oregon he transferred to the Marine Corps Reserves and 2d Battalion, 24th
Marines. Lieutenant Colonel Lowrey has been with the History and Museums Division
since 1998, deploying as a field historian during Operations Joint Guardian, Enduring
Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. He recently received his Ph.D. in Archaeology from
American University and, in addition to organizing data collected during OIF II, is
currently researching Marine Corps operations in Afghanistan.
John W. Ripley
Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired)
Director of Marine Corps History and Museums
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