When you upload a video you can choose between marking it as a Military Video (in which case it will be shared with all members of all sites on the Home Tab) or not (in which case it is viewed from your Profile only).

Videos can be browsed in a G-many similar to the photo gallery, which permits sorting by Date, Size or Title.

Member Groups
We have launched our new Interest Groups feature, now appearing on your right hand Profile Page, which allows TWS Members to quickly identify other Members with similar interests and interact in a more focused environment with better communication tools.

Here is just a small sample of the Groups we have installed: 

* Automobiles - Performance Tuning
* Computers and Internet - Help and Advice
* Family and Relationships - Divorce
* Hobbies - Firearms and Shooting
* Motorcycles - Harley Davidson
* Music and Bands - 70's and 80's
* Parenting - Babies and Toddlers
* Sports - NFL
* Veterans Affairs - Benefits and Claims
* Work and Careers - Unemployment

When you click on the Add button in the Interest Groups section, you can select a Group to join from an extensive list of diverse interests which will then be displayed on your Profile Page. An Also There link instantly lists all other TWS Members who have elected to be a Member of the same Group.

Each Group has its own dedicated Forum which is only viewable to Members of that Group. If you wish to request a Group not listed, please contact the Administrator of this site.

Let us know how you like this new feature and as always we appreciate your comments and suggestions.

Graphical Medal Selector
Tired of building your ribbon rack from a drop down alphabetic list of medals? Well now you can click on the medals you wear instead with our new graphical medal selector:

Please Welcome to TWS - Col Leo K. Thorsness (USAF/Ret), Medal Of Honor, Vietnam 19 April 1967

Featured Book Review - "Surving Hell, a POW

From Combat to Captivity

A strong religious faith and a love of country and family helped him survive six years of torture, isolation and neglect.

Two hundred and forty-six Americans received the Medal of Honor for valorous service in the Vietnam War. One hundred and fifty-four of the medals -- more than 60% -- were awarded posthumously. Of the servicemen who lived to accept their medals, Col. Leo Thorsness, U.S. Air Force, experienced an unusual delay: He had to wait for more than six years as a "guest" of the North Vietnamese before he finally received his. He describes that interlude in "Surviving Hell: A POW's Journey," an unsparing personal memoir of life in communist captivity. It is a modest recital of his own experiences and a paean to the courage and endurance of his fellow prisoners of war.

A "Minnesota farm kid" born during the Depression, Mr. Thorsness found his calling in the Air Force and had become an experienced fighter pilot by the time the Vietnam War began heating up in the mid-1960s.

In 1966, he was sent to Southeast Asia to fly an F-105F "Thud" -- a fighter with a two-man crew -- in support of the American bombing campaign in North Vietnam. Operating from Takhli in Thailand, he and his "backseater," Harry Johnson, carried out "Wild Weasel" missions to identify and destroy hostile radar, flak and surface-to-air missile installations, clearing the way for fighter-bombers to attack vital targets in the communist homeland. On one such mission, on April 17, 1967, they took part in the action for which Mr. Thorsness was recommended for the Medal of Honor.

While escorting a flight of attack bombers, they were jumped by several Russian-built MiG-17 fighters. Though his F-105 was not designed for aerial dogfighting, its great speed, the formidable gatling gun that it carried and Col. Thorsness's superb airmanship proved more than a match for the North Vietnamese. When the scrap was over, he was credited with downing two MiGs against nearly impossible odds.

Just 11 days later, on their second mission of the day -- their 93rd over North Vietnam -- Col. Thorsness and "backseater" Johnson were attacked by an enemy MiG fighter, which scored a direct hit on their plane with a air-to-air missile. They ejected at 10,000 feet at a speed of nearly 690 miles per hour, far faster than the maximum safe velocity. Both men suffered extensive injuries in the ejection but survived to land safely in the jungle about 70 miles west of Hanoi -- where they were taken prisoner.

At that point, as Mr. Thorsness observes in "Surviving Hell," he was about to embark on "an ordeal that would brutalize me . . . and also allow me to become a better and fuller person." A strong religious faith and a love of country and family helped him to survive the next six years of torture, isolation and neglect. It was not until 1969, two years into his captivity in Hoa Lo Prison -- the notorious "Hanoi Hilton" -- that he learned from a newly captured pilot that he had been recommended for the Medal of Honor, and not until October 1973 was it finally awarded by President Richard Nixon.

The Code of Conduct and the Geneva Conventions -- the one requiring Americans to conform to certain standards while in captivity and the other demanding civilized standards of their captors -- were the rocks upon which prisoners of the communists took their stand and upon which many foundered as they were subjected to unremitting torture and deprivation. Mr. Thorsness says of the Vietnamese that "they hadn't improved much on the devices of the Spanish Inquisition" and that after he finally broke under torture and gave more than name, rank, service number and date of birth, "it was the lowest point in all my six years of captivity." Only later, did he find comfort in the assurance of another POW pilot that "everyone who goes through that type of interrogation . . . either they broke or died -- some did both." Ironically, he notes, torture wasn't really intended to get useful military information so much as to elicit propaganda statements from American officers.

During much of his first three years in captivity Col. Thorsness was in solitary confinement or in a cell with one or two other prisoners. Then, after the failure of America's superbly executed Son Tay raid, which had been intended to rescue POWs from a prison camp deep inside North Vietnam, the enemy began concentrating its prisoners in or near Hanoi. When Col. Thorsness was eventually put into one cell with a large group of fellow airmen, he and his fellow POWs began holding rudimentary classes, church services and even pre- commissioning training for the three Air Force enlisted men who were in the group. The three had been shot down in a helicopter in 1965 and, as Mr. Thorsness says, had been "tortured just like the officer pilots and kept the faith." Their fellow prisoners decided that they should be commissioned second lieutenants, and they were taught military and leadership subjects to prepare them. When all were released in 1973, the commissions were ratified by President Nixon.

It is stories like the commissioning of the enlisted POWs that make "Surviving Hell" such an enriching appendix to the chronicle of the American experience in Vietnam. Or take the case of Mike Christian, one of the author's cellmates: He made a small American flag out of scraps of cloth, which he laboriously dyed and sewed together, only to have it discovered by the guards, who then beat him mercilessly. As soon as he recovered from the beating, he began to make another flag.

Such was the character of the men who served their country by being true to its principles while in the hands of a cruel enemy. Men who in many cases were held captive longer than any other prisoners of war in our history. And it is their story, even more than his own, that Leo Thorsness tells so engagingly.

Wall Stree Book Review by C. Wyly Watson.  Lt. Col. Watson, U.S. Army retired, served two tours of duty in Vietnam

Order "Surviving Hell" from Amazon at this link.

TWS Marine Store - For All Your Marine Merchandise Needs!

Pay a visit to our online TWS Marine Store. For all your Marine Merchandise needs - Shirts, Jackets, Hats, Jewelry, Footwear, Medals, Patches and much, much more!

(The Marine Store can also be found under the "Marine Store" tab or on the left hand Home Page just as you log into TWS)

Over 9000 Quality Items at lowest prices and a 30 day money back guarantee! Here are some brand new items just arrived:

• USMC Golf Shirts (Various logos and colors)
• Jostens Classic Women's U.S. Marine Corps Ring - Oval Stone
• USMC Medals & Ribbons
• Belleville Insulated Combat Boot

Thank you for your support of the TWS Marine Store. All Store proceeds go towards advertising the TWS website, bringing more Marines to the TWS Community.

YouTube video of the month - Return to Makin Island

Welcome Home Brothers - Rest in Peace.

Complimentary Upgrade to Combat Troops Serving in OIF/OEF

If you are currently serving as boots on the ground in a combat zone in Iraq or Afghanistan we will be happy to provide you with complimentary Full Membership for the duration of your tour. Request you complimentary upgrade by contacting TWS Admin - email TWS Admin

Vet Topics

Story by Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON - All systems are on track for this summer's rollout of the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, which Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said he expects to have as monumental an impact as the original World War II-era GI Bill of Rights.

Shinseki, who served as Army chief of staff from 1999 to 2003, told American Forces Press Service he understands the excitement over the new program that goes into effect Aug. 1.

The new GI Bill will provide the most comprehensive educational benefits since the original bill, officially called the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, was signed into law.

Many veterans who served after Sept. 11, 2001, will be eligible for full tuition and fees, a new monthly housing stipend and an annual stipend of up to $1,000 for books and supplies. Reservists and National Guard members who have been activated for more than 90 days since 9/11 will have access to the same GI Bill benefits.

And for the first time, those enrolled in the Post-9/11 GI Bill program will be able to transfer unused educational benefits to spouses or children.

"It has been a long time since we've had an education initiative that includes tuition fees [and a] housing allowance, [and] takes care of all of the requirements required to go to school," Shinseki said of the program. This will enable veterans to focus on their studies, he said, without the distractions of figuring out how to pay for them.

Shinseki said he expects the Post-9/11 GI Bill to have as big an impact as the original GI Bill. That law provided college education or vocational training for millions of returning World War II veterans, loans so they could buy homes or start businesses, and unemployment compensation while they looked for jobs.

By the time the original GI Bill ended in July 1956, 7.8 million World War II veterans had taken advantage of the education and training programs it funded, and another 2.4 million had signed up for VA-backed home loans.

"What that bill did for the country was to change the course of our history and the latter half of the 20th century," Shinseki said. "When those veterans went back to their communities with their college degrees, they ended up being our leaders in religion, education, business, government - you name it."

The Post-9/11 version "has the opportunity to create in the 21st century the same kind of impact for development, ... social change [and] leadership across a lot of institutions," he said.

The program will be administered and funded by VA, and represents a "huge investment" by the United States in its veterans, Shinseki said.

This, he said, sends a strong, unmistakable message.

"I think young veterans who come back and participate in [in the Post 9/11 GI Bill] will begin to understand how much they arXXXXevalXXXXued [and] how much their service is valued, just by the opportunity here," he said.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates advocated expanding education benefits as a way to recognize troops' service while supporting both recruiting and retention. Gates first heard the transferability concept floated during a meeting with a military spouses' group at Fort Hood, Texas, and pitched the idea to then-President George W. Bush. Bush promoted the idea and ultimately signed the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008 into law on June 30.

A whopping 97 percent of servicemembers surveyed in August said they plan to take advantage of the new benefits provided in the Post-11 GI Bill, said Bill Carr, deputy undersecretary of defense for military personnel policy.

"Enormous interest has been expressed in the transferability provision and how it would work, because so many in the force have families," Carr said. He noted that half of the military force is married. By the time troops have served six years of duty, about two-thirds have families.

To qualify for transferability under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, servicemembers must have served six years on active duty or in the Selected Reserve, and must commit to another four years. But Carr said the rules could be tweaked soon to allow mid- or late-career troops to qualify, even if they can't sign on for another four years of duty due to service restrictions.

Story by SSG Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON - In April 2004, at the height of the insurgency in Iraq, five female soldiers unwittingly found themselves fighting alongside Marines in the battle for Ramadi and Fallujah.

Their story is told in a documentary film bearing their unit name, "Team Lioness," which has been shown in private and public screenings throughout the United States and Europe in the past year. The Center for Women Veterans hosted the film at the Department of Veterans Affairs headquarters here recently
.

"These stories are important to us at VA, because women veterans are coming to VA in great numbers, and we need to make sure we understand their experiences," Betty Moseley Brown, associate director of the VA’s Center for Women Veterans, said as she introduced the film to an audience of about 50 viewers. "They became the first female soldiers in U.S. history to be sent into direct ground combat."

Since the American Civil War, women have played important roles in the US armed forces during war time -- as nurses, journalists, pilots, engineers, logisticians and much more. But what they're not, still, is infantry, armor or artillery -- combat-arms specialties.

Still, many female servicemembers have been wounded and killed as a result of enemy fire. But it wasn't until the start of the Iraq war in 2003 that women began finding themselves engaged in direct fighting.

Team Lioness pioneered women in direct fighting, although somewhat unintentionally. The women were intended to augment combat-arms platoons to search Iraqi women for money, weapons and drugs smuggling at checkpoints and on patrols. But eventually, their new roles in the ranks of combatant units led to ground combat alongside infantrymen, cavalrymen and artillerymen on the frontlines.

The film opens in a wilderness setting with trees and damp leaves lining a still-flowing creek. The only sounds for several seconds are crickets chirping in the background. The tranquil silence of Mena, Ark., is suddenly broken by the boom of several shotgun rounds fired at aturtle in the creek.

The documentary’s introduction of Shannon Morgan, a former Army mechanic and Lioness, shows her innocence as a country girl, but with an obviously troubled past. Much of the film follows her around her family's farm as she hunts squirrels with her shotgun and shares emotional testimonies of her time in Iraq.

"I don't watch the news. I don't read newspapers," Morgan says in the film. "But the memories of war never go away."

 
SPC Shannon Morgan, tracked vehicle mechanic: “Women are evolving into roles that have been previously closed to us in the military and we are more than capable and ready to meet this challenge head on.”- Photo courtesy PBS

Morgan and the other Lionesses said they never expected to have to fire their weapon. But they quickly found themselves performing combat patrols, raids and house-to-house searches with the Marines in what was considered the most dangerous region of Iraq during what was arguably the most dangerous period of the entire campaign. 

The Lionesses talk about their first enemy encounters and the stress of seeing dead bodies for the first time, while fighting to stay alive. Morgan recalled battling with the darkest side of war just before shooting an insurgent in a firefight. "It's something you learn to deal with," Morgan said. "I don’t regret what I did, but I wish it had never happened." 

The soldiers also talk about the difficulties of learning the tactics and vocabulary of the Marines they worked with. The transition from their Army ways, plus the frequency of enemy engagements, didn’t allow for much of a learning curve to make up for their lack of knowledge of various weapons systems, Army Captain Anastasia Breslow, a Signal Corps officer and former Lioness, said in the film.   

"If everyone [in the platoon] had been hurt, I would have had no idea how to get back to the forward operating base," Breslow said. "I didn’t know how to use the biggest casualty-producing weapon we had. I felt we needed to know more."

Although the film takes place primarily on the home front with Lioness and family interviews, it brings to light the realities today's generation of military women, and all combat support troops, face in Iraq and Afghanistan. The line that separates the front from the rear is blurred by the urban and guerilla warfare troops encounter fighting terrorism within the Middle East. 

CPT Anastasia Breslow, Signal Corps officer: “…when I got home I wanted to go back; it was great to be home, I appreciated everything so much more. But everyday life seemed so average and there was still more work to be done over there.” - Photo courtesy PBS

The nature of modern warfare -- fighting counterinsurgencies in random locations, as opposed to nation states on prescribed battlefields -- has made it difficult to define what constitutes a combat-arms military specialty and what doesn't. 

Military women today still cannot legally serve in combat-arms positions, but they serve competently and are trained in a variety of roles and capacities in Iraq and Afghanistan because of the lessons learned from the original Team Lioness. Their experiences prompted training for women that was never done before. They learn infantry tactics, qualify on more weapons, and are better prepared for the chance they may have to engage the enemy."

As a result of their experiences, now each military service trains female servicemembers to be Lionesses, training that was not offered whenever this documentary was actually filmed," Brown said, referring to the weapons and tactical training female military members now receive.

Member Submited Photos

Marines.TWS now hosts over 771,000 member submitted photos! Here's a sample of some of the more than 17,000 photos you added this month...

Member Comments

Here's a sampling of some of your comments received this month...

"I just noticed that when you post a clip and mark it "Military Video" it appears on all four sites, Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. Nice job Admin!"
Steve Loomis (SaigonShipYard)
http://navy.togetherweserved.com/profile/345951
>>>>>>>

"Major, thank you for the site. I have already found a friend have been looking for for 17 years. Thank you very much -Keith"
Johnson, Keith, Cpl
>>>>>>>

"Thank You Sir, It is a honor as you know to say that I served a great nation as one of the finest our country can produce and that is a United States Marine. My father always said that there are two types of people in the world. "Marines and those that wish they where Marines". I have already made contact with a fellow Marine brother that I served with 23 years ago and we talked tonight for over an hour. This is a great web site and I am looking forward to searching for more Marine brothers. Thanks again for welcoming me aboard and Semper Fi.
Cpl. (Seadog) Seaman"
Seaman, Douglas (Seadog), Cpl 
>>>>>>>

"Thank you for the welcome aboard message Sir. I have only been looking around for a few minutes and I am already very pleased and thankful for this site. Respectively Summited, Sgt Vincent"
Vincent, Stephen, Sgt 

Buddies Found - TWS Success Stories!

Can you find old friends on TWS?  Yes you can!  Here's a few of the success stories posted this month:

A big Thank You to Major Prater and TWS. Through the sought profile I created on this
site, I was contacted by Debroah Mattock, and she supplied me with
information on a Vietnam Veteran that I served with while with the
4th Marines.

Today, Cpl "Rich" Wilds returned my phone call, and we spoke briefly.
I informed him of this wonderful site, and expect to have him join our
ranks. 

Marines finding Marines is a beautiful thing! Thank you TWS.
SF,
Young, Eddie ("Yogi Bear"), Cpl
-------
"I found Two guy's i was in boot camp with. and jack shaver found me about an hour after i was on line. We were  together in nam hotel 2/3   bama"

Whittington, Joe (Alabama "Bama"), Sgt








-------
Boot Camp Buddies found after 50 years!

Have you ever wondered what happened to the guys you went through boot camp with?  I recently got to wondering the same thing because in December of 2009, it will be 50 years since I arrived at Parris Island. 

I'm sure you would agree that’s a mile stone that has to be celebrated.  So, I tried to ignore the wind and snow outside my window and I made it a winter project to try to find my boot camp buddies.  Thanks to the resources of the internet, I am happy and proud to announce that I can account for 33 (out of 62) members of Platoon 285, “I” Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion!  Sadly, 8 of this number received their final set of orders but finding 25 who are as hale and hearty as can be some 50 years after graduation is a fact that has to be celebrated. 

Don’t forget the “rule” that those that live East of the Mississippi when enlisting get to visit Parris Island and those that live West of the Mississippi get to visit San Diego - right?  Well, we were all East Coast enlistees and we went through Parris Island so you can imagine my amazement to learn, that even after 50 years, 23 of the 25 still live East of the Mississippi!  On top of that, without knowing about each other, 2 are living on different sides of Columbus, Ohio. 

I found out that once we got out of boot camp and went our 62 different directions, out of the 25 who stayed with the military, one retired from the Marine Corps, 2 retired from the Air Force and 1 retired from the Navy.  Others went on to retire from high schools and colleges and police departments and fire departments and the National Park Service and even the US Department of Agriculture! A number of the guys are now enjoying retirement in sunny Florida! 

I made up a roster of all the regular addresses and email addresses and phone numbers and sent it to everyone.  Now, a number of the guys have been emailing and calling each other to catch up on old gossip and the passage of so many years.  A couple of the original guys from Platoon 285 are even members of the Marine Corps Together We Served web site. 

I guess my point here is to really celebrate the finding of my platoon mates and to tell you and encourage you, if you get the urge to try to find people, to use the internet to do it - there are some awesome resources.  Locating people can be done!  We’re talking about some kind of a 50 year reunion but even if that doesn’t happen, I think it’s fair to say that having a chance to say hi by phone or some kind of mail after so many years can be a boost to your morale - it sure was for mine! 

I know that I am who I am today because of the experience of boot camp.  I’m sure each of you would agree that in joining the Marine Corps and becoming a Marine, no matter when or where you went through boot camp, officer or enlisted, you earned the right to be a member of the most unique fraternity in the world.  It wasn’t given to you - you earned it.  I don’t imagine you would trade that membership without a fight.  I know I wouldn’t! Semper Fi!

Michael L. Knox
Bridgeport, WA
Knox, Michael L. (Mike), LCpl

The "Guidon" - MTWS Monthly Newsletter

A monthly online publication ofMarines.TogetherWeServed.com, a commercial entity in no way affiliated, authorized or endorsed by the US Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Navy, or any of its agencies.

Opinions and views expressed herein are not necessarily those of Marines.TogetherWeServed.com, the U.S. Government, Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense.

The GUIDON - MTWS Newsletter is published and distributed for informational purposes only and should not be considered official Marine Corps policy, regulation or doctrine. Contact your command's administration section concerning all current Marine Corps policy, regulation and doctrine issues.

All photos used in this online publication are official US Navy/Department of Defense imagery and cleared for public release, unless otherwise indicated.

Please send any comments, quality improvement suggestions or story ideas to: news@marines.togetherweserved.com.

Maj W.T. Prater (Ret)
Administrator/Editor

TWSCafe - New Item - Marine Corps DVD!

New Item:  Marine Corps DVD!

Feel the Passion of our Corps. Give to friends and family the gift of insight as to why you are what we are …MARINES.

Created by a Marine for our brotherhood, the truth of which transcends our own mortality.

“There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines: Marines and the enemy. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion.”
Gen. William Thornson, U.S. Army

This moving video is crafted for, and will swell the pride of, those who understand what it means to be a Marine.

FEATURES:

USMC Recruitment Posters from 1776-2009, divided into four shows with background music from period recorded Marine Band. Recordings by “The Band” 1899, 1914, 1923 et. al.

Over 15 VINTAGE USMC COMMERCIALS and recruiting videos

The acclaimed and enhanced, “What is a Marine,” “Here We Go Again,” “All Honor to Her,” “The Greatest Generation”

Award winning fine arts Marine Corps photographic art of Dr. Scott Magill

Over 80 minutes of passion destined to become a classic representation of, why we are, who we are. Semper Fi my brothers.
Shipping is FREE!

Cost: $18.00  Visit the TWSCafe to order yours today.
Magill, Scott, Sgt is the creator of this DVD.

Did You Know?

Free and Discounted Service Providers

The list of Free and Discounted Service providers on TWS continues to grow. 

Please take a moment to look through the various offers and take advantage of this benefit of your TWS Membership.

These are Free listings and not paid advertisements.

Of particular note this and ever month is the FREE MUSIC DOWNLOAD available from "To The Fallen Records."  Founded in 2006, To The Fallen Records promotes the musical talents of military artists for the world to connect to, learn from and enjoy, and also gives back to the military by donating a percentage of proceeds to organizations dedicated to honoring the fallen or assisting disabled soldiers and their families.

Click on the Banner below to get this month's FREE download from "To The Fallen Records"

This month's download: 

10` Fold
“Sleeping Giant”
10 Fold’s E. Lee Conley is currently serving in the Rhode Island Army National Guard.

SemperToon of the Month

 
Sempertoons.com

Off Duty

Story by SPC Howard Ketter
20th Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - Service members were excited as the cast of the new J.J. Abrams produced and directed film visited Camp Arifjan, Kuwait for a premiere of the movie, April 11.

"We feel priviledged to be here and to meet the people who are working hard on our behalf," said John Cho, who stars as Sulu in the new big-screen "Star Trek" movie.

Actors Zoe Saldana (Uhura), Bryan Burk (executive producer), Karl Urban (Dr. McCoy), Zachary Quinto (Spock), Chris Pine (Kirk) and Eric Bana (Nero) also accompanied director/producer J.J. Abrams to exclusive premiere.

"It's so easy for people to take for granted, the fact that [service members] are here doing work that makes this possible," said director Abrams, who also helms and co-creator of the hit sci-fi thrillers "Lost" on ABC, and "Fringe" for the Fox TV network. Abrams' Bad Robot Productions also produced the successful ABC prime time spy series "Alias", and two recent box office hits, "Cloverfield" and "Mission Impossible: III."

The crew stopped and visited service members in the US Army Central Headquarters building before heading to the theater. They exchanged friendly conversation with BG James T. Walton and several other headquarters staff leaders. Then they took time out to greet service members, sign autographs and take photos.

"It struck us that there was an opportunity to not just have it be about the movie, but to have it be about something that's more important than all that stuff," Abrams commented.

Once it was time to show the movie, due for release in US theaters on May 8, the stars went to the Zone 1 movie theater for the premiere. Once the showing was over, service members asked questions and commented on the film to the cast.

Chief Warrant Officer Earl Hemminger, Regional Computer Emergency Response team from the Virginia National Guard, asked actor Zachary Quinto, who played Spock in the film, to speak to his daughter Katherine, who is a very big fan.

"Your dad told me to say this was hotness," laughed Quinto as he spoke to her via cell phone. Quinto is best known for his role as the enigmatic Sylar on the hit NBC series "Heroes."

Abrams talked about how he and the writers came up with the concept of the new film and Eric Bana, who portrays the character Nero, talked to service members on how he prepared for his role and shot his parts separate from most of the cast.

After the Q & A, service members were able to take photos and get autographs with the stars before they headed off to the LSA, Kuwait to continue to promote the movie.

"It's an honor to come here to say hi and shake hands with the people who protect us," said Abrams.

Cast member John Cho said having the warm reception for this film by the service members was really moving. Cho is best known for his starring roles in the comedies "Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle," and "Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay."

"We had fun making the movie and we hope the [service members had] fun watching it."

Trade Banner Links with TWS

If you operate a Marine orientated website and are willing to trade links with TWS, click here for information on posting a TWS banner on your site. In return, please contact us at admin@marines.togetherweserved.com with your site's URL, up to 100 words describing your website and a 468x60 website banner in jpeg format, if available. We'll be happy to post a reciprocal link in our Preferred Marine Links Section in the category of your choice. TWS Marine Links Pages are conveniently organized under different categories including Marine Associations, MCL Detachments, Marine Businesses, Marine Charities and others.

Sincerely,
The TWS Administration Team
http://marines.togetherweserved.com