ABOARD THE U.S.S. PELELIU -- Sgt. Benjamin M. Ables and Cpl. Odena Colon, were each presented with the Navy Achievement Medal by Col. J.W. Bullard, commanding officer, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Camp Pendleton, Calif., in the hangar bay aboard the U.S.S Peleliu, for earning the 11th MEU Noncommissioned Officer of The Quarter and Marine of The Quarter Awards, respectively.
Ables, an air traffic controller with the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, and Colon, a wireman with the MEU Service Support Group 11, Camp Pendleton, received their awards the same day the MEU conducted the cake-cutting ceremony for the Marine Corps' 230th birthday.