Marine returns from peacekeeping support mission

Ryan E. Dunham of Eldersburg recently returned from a six-month deployment with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).

He embarked aboard a ship of the USS Kearsage Amphibious Ready Group from Camp Lejeune, N.C.

With fellow Marines from the MEU's other ships, he participated in an amphibious landing at Litohoro, Greece, to deliver the first American troops in support of a NATO/United Nations peacekeeping force in Kosovo and assisted in humanitarian efforts after the earthquake in Turkey.

During the deployment, Dunham also visited ports in Greece, Israel, Italy, Sicily, Spain and Turkey.

A 1992 graduate of Liberty High School, Dunham joined the Marine Corps in November 1995. He is a 1996 graduate of the University of Maryland, University College, College Park, with a bachelor's degree.