Respect.

Marines kneel down beside the battlefield cross to pay their final respects to Sgt. Bradley Atwell during a memorial ceremony, Sept. 20. During the ceremony, Marines paid tribute to Atwell, an aircraft electrical, instrument and flight control systems technician with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16, from Kokomo, Ind. Atwell was killed in action while engaging insurgents during an attack on Camp Bastion, Sept. 14.

General John Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force, pays his final respects to Lt. Col. Christopher Raible during a memorial ceremony, Sept. 19. During the ceremony, Marines paid tribute to Raible, commanding officer of Marine Attack Squadron 211, from Huntingdon, Pa. Raible was killed in action while engaging insurgents during an attack on Camp Bastion, Sept. 14.

An AV-8B Harrier II Plus with Marine Attack Squadron 211, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), awaits its next mission on the tarmac at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Sept. 18, 2012. The aircraft provides air support to the ground units throughout Helmand and Nimroz provinces. Despite a roller coaster week for the squadron, VMA-211 remains fully operational and continues to provide support to ground troops throughout Regional Command Southwest’s area of operations.

NOTE:  The only way this Squadron can be considered fully functional after losing over half its aircraft is if its in cadre status or another Squadron was stripped of its airplanes.  More on this later.