Gates Visits Sailors, Marines in California

Department of Defense Photo Essay

  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrives in San Diego, Aug. 12, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates tours the USS Higgins with Navy Commander Rome Ruiz in San Diego, Aug. 12, 2010. The Higgins is an Arleigh Burke-class, guided missile destroyer, named in honor of Marine Col. William R. Higgins, who was kidnapped and murdered in 1988, while serving as the chief, Observer Group Lebanon and senior military observer, U.S. Military Observer Group, U.N. Truce Supervision Organization (Palestine). DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates talks to the crew members aboard the destroyer USS Higgins in San Diego, Aug 12, 2010. The destroyer, recently returned from an around-the-world deployment, was the first ship to arrive in Haiti, following a 7.0 magnitude earthquake in January 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates talks to the crew members aboard the destroyer USS Higgins in San Diego, Aug 12, 2010. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Elena Pence
  • The U.S. flag flies on the USS Higgins as U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates speaks with sailors in San Diego, Aug. 12, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Navy Cmdr. Rome Ruiz gives U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates a tour of the USS Higgins in San Diego, Aug. 12, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Navy Cmdr. Rome Ruiz gives U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates a tour of the USS Higgins in San Diego, Aug. 12, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates meets with sailors aboard the destroyer USS Higgins in San Diego, Aug 12, 2010. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Elena Pence
  • U.S. Navy Cmdr. Rome Ruiz gives U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates a tour of the USS Higgins in San Diego, Aug. 12, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates presents the Purple Heart to U.S. Corps Marine Gunnery Sgt. David Rohde at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, Aug. 12, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates presents the Purple Heart to U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. David Rohde at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, Aug. 12, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. David Rohde receives the Purple Heart from U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, Aug. 12, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates takes a group photo with Purple Heart recipient U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. David Rohde and his family at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, Calif., Aug. 12, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates presents coins to the children of Purple Heart recipient U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. David Rohde at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, Aug. 12, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates presents coins to the children of Purple Heart recipient U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. David Rohde at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, Aug. 12, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • Former U.S. Defense Secretary William J. Perry speaks with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates during a reception prior to the the George P. Schultz lecture to the Marines' Memorial Association in San Fransisco, Aug. 12, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • Former U.S. Defense Secretary William J. Perry introduces Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates during the George P. Schultz lecture to the Marines' Memorial Association in San Fransisco, Calif., Aug. 12, 2010. Perry, who served as defense secretary from 1994 to 1997, became known as "the GI's secretary of defense" because of his strong bond with the troops and the military's top enlisted sergeants. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates delivers the George P. Schultz lecture to the Marines' Memorial Association in San Fransisco, Aug. 12, 2010. During his speech, Gates said he has ordered a thorough force structure review of the Marine Corps to determine what the readiness of an expeditionary force should look like in the 21st century. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates delivers the George P. Schultz lecture to the Marines' Memorial Association in San Fransisco, Aug. 12, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates delivers the George P. Schultz lecture to the Marines' Memorial Association in San Fransisco, Aug. 12, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates boards a C-32 aircraft in San Fransisco, Aug. 12, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen