Marine Corps Lance Cpl. William C. Parson, an alumnus of the University of Tennessee at Martin, recently returned from a seven-month deployment to Iraq while assigned to Company “K”, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines, 4th Marine Division, based in Memphis, Tenn. Pearson is a 1994 graduate of UTM with a Bachelor of Science degree.

While in Iraq, Parson’s unit assisted in America’s ongoing effort to support local police, establish a government that is representative of the people, stabilize the economy and create the groundwork for democracy.

4th Marine Division is the largest ground combat element in the Marine Corps and is comprised of approximately 22,000 Marines based in 42 states. The unit’s primary mission is to provide trained combat and combat support personnel and units to augment and reinforce the active Marine component in time of war or national emergency.

For more information, visit the Marine Forces Reserve Web site at http://mfr.usmc.mil/