Lejeune Marines to receive Purple Hearts
The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Jun 15, 2009 14:08:09 EDT

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Marines who recently returned from Afghanistan with combat wounds are getting Purple Heart medals.

Officials say Marines from 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, are being honored with a medal ceremony Monday at Camp Lejeune.

Members of the unit returned to their base June 4. The battalion deployed to Afghanistan in November and was the only Marine infantry unit in the country at the time. A task force of 8,000 Marines has now deployed to Afghanistan as part of a troop surge.

The Purple Heart is one of the oldest medals in the military.

Ellie