Photos

Corporal Louis A. Plume stands in the weapon mount of a humvee holding a 7.62 millimeter round of an AK-47 assault rifle, used as shrapnel in an improvised explosive device. The round struck his radio which prevented it from injuring him. The gunner with Security Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 5, 1st Marine Logistics Group, has had several encounters with improvised explosive devices during his two deployments. The Roger City, Mich., native experienced his last encounter while traveling through the Al Anbar Province in July 2006. ?I definitely know how close I came to dying and I?m still alive to talk about it.? Upon return to the United States Plume will complete his enlistment on a non-deployable status for medical reasons.