Sgt. Rick D. Guthrie (left), the engineer platoon sergeant

Sgt. Rick D. Guthrie (left), the engineer platoon sergeant for Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), explains the capabilities of the embarked heavy equipment to Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg (center) during a visit to the USS Germantown, Nov. 28. Goldberg, along with Lt. Gen. John Wissler, the commander of Joint Task Force 505 and commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force, visited the Marines and sailors with the 31st MEU and the crew of the ship to thank them for their assistance during Operation Damayan. “In my many years of foreign service, I have been honored to work with Marines and sailors and I have been impressed every time. You all have done amazing work here and I’m proud to be here with you,” said Goldberg. Goldberg is the U.S. ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines. (Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Scott Smolinski)