Major Matthew Peterson, operations officer, Battalion Landing Team 3/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is awarded the Bronze Star Medal by Lt. Col. Christeon Griffin, his battalion commander, aboard USS Green Bay, March 3. Peterson received the award for his extraordinary guidance, zealous initiative and total dedication to duty while securing the historically violent and enemy controlled urban area of Wishtan and the surrounding region. The 15th MEU is deployed as part of the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group as a U.S. Central Command theatre reserve force, providing support for maritime security operations and theatre security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Bobby J. Gonzalez/Released)