Sgt. James Wright, who received the Bronze Star Medal with valor device from Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, salutes during the national anthem at the June 1, 2004 presentation ceremony in front of the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Va.

Wright was given a speed boat as appreciation for his actions while serving in Iraq.

Photo by Cpl. Richard Stephens

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Josh Stoneman embraces his newborn son for the first time on his return to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Jan. 9, 2006, after a six-month deployment aboard USS Chosin (CG 65).

Stoneman is a Navy interior communications electrician aboard the guided missile cruiser. Chosin was deployed as part of the USS Tarawa (LHA 1) Expeditionary Strike Group.

DoD photo by
Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan C. McGinley, U.S. Navy

NAVAL AIR STATION INGLESIDE, TEXAS – 1st Lt. Salvatore Nigro, forward observer, presents former President George H. W. Bush with a shell casing from a 105mm howitzer.

Nigro, along with the Marines in his command, felt that it was an honor to be a part of the commissioning of the navy's newest assault ship, the USS San Antonio, Jan. 14, 2006.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Ryan M. Blaich

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Lieutenant Colonel William Jurney, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment's commander, left, poses for a photo alongside his wife, Sue Ellen, and Brig. Gen. Joseph McMenamin, 2nd Marine Division (rear) commanding general, after being presented his Bronze Star Medal with combat distinguishing device here Jan. 17. Jurney, a Statesville, N.C. native, was recognized for his courageous leadership during his unit's deployment to Iraq from March through October 2005. (Photo by Cpl. Mike Escobar)