Onboard the Iwo Jima
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Santiago C. Fierro, son of Wendy E. Fierro of Morgan Hill, and Cruz J. Fierro of Los Banos, recently went ashore to Roberts International Airport and the Freeport of Monrovia in Liberia to provide support for West African forces while assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), based in Camp Lejeune, N.C. The unit is currently deployed with the USS Iwo Jima.
Fierro is one of more than 4,000 Atlantic Fleet Sailors and Marines who are deployed aboard the ships of the USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group.
The MEU established a quick reaction force at Robert’s International to provide support for the Economic Community of West African States’ forces if needed, and assisted in securing the Freeport in an effort to facilitate humanitarian efforts for the Liberian people.
Fierro’s unit is an expeditionary intervention force with the ability to rapidly organize for combat operations in virtually any environment. MEUs are composed of more than 2,000 personnel and are divided into an infantry battalion, aircraft squadron, support group and command element. With this combination, Fierro’s unit supplies and sustains itself for either quick mission accomplishment or clearing the way for follow-on forces.
Fierro is a 2000 graduate of Gilroy High School and joined the Marine Corps in May 2001.
