Chris Stopa:  

Life Graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in the Visual Communications, and worked as a graphic designer in Pittsburgh after high school. In April of 1991 I joined the United States Marine Corps, and was stationed at Paris Island, South Carolina. After boot camp I spent my first four years as an enlisted Amphibious Assault Vehicle Crewman, (AAV's) and was deployed to several locations world wide. During that time he was assigned to 2nd AAV Battalion, 2nd Marine Corps Division (2nd MAR DIV) and participated in a number of Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU) Special Operations Capable (SOC) exercises including a six month deployment as part of the 24th MEU (SOC), aboard the USS Saginaw, in the fall of 1992 which supported operations off the coast of the former Yugoslavia. Returning to the Mediterranean Sea in the winter of 1994 this time for support in "Operation Restore Hope" in Somalia as part of the 26th MEU (SOC), aboard the USS Spartanburg County. Upon landing in the capitol of Somalia (Mogadishu) this operation would last four of the six-months of the deployment and consist of the withdraw of US troops from Somalia. Upon returning to Camp LeJeune from the latest deployment and a long six months, the 26th MEU (SOC) and Alpha Company 2nd AAV Battalion 3rd Platoon would make history. This time the 26th MEU (SOC) was recalled from authorized leave after only two weeks back in the US. This was the first time the 26th MEU (SOC) was reactivated after standing-down and the MEU's units were instructed to return back to Camp LeJeune after only 2 days on leave. The...Expand for more