While most people think of the U.S. Marines as America's premier fighting force, the Corps also provides humanitarian assistance around the world in the wake of disasters. That includes right here at home, as historic flooding devastates large swaths of the MidWest.

(The same is true about our client, the Marine Corps League, who aid other Marines and their families, as well as communities and children engaged in their own battles against crippling illnesses.)

Here's part of the story; click on the headline to read the rest and see the photos of your United States Marine Corps in action.

Marines, Ind. Nat'l Guard fight back storm waters, help save local town

6/11/2008 By Cpl. Jason D. Mills , 26th MEU
ELNORA, Ind. — Approximately 140 Marines and sailors from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit were called into action here after state and local agencies requested their assistance to fortify a levee in imminent danger of being overrun by the floodwaters which have devastated the area.

The Marines, who were later joined by soldiers from the Indiana National Guard, prisoners incarcerated at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility in Carlisle Ind., townspeople, Mennonites, Amish farmers and local volunteers reinforced nearly a mile of levee in Elnora, Ind.

After receiving the word to mobilize, the Marines rushed out to Elnora via CH-53E Super Stallion and CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters and began filling sandbags and building and reinforcing levees shortly after arriving at 3 a.m. and continued their efforts until 5 p.m. when they were called off due to more thunderstorms in the area.

The Marines worked with a feverish determination throughout the night and into the morning, most of the time with smiles on their faces, because they had the knowledge they were doing something of real good for those they are sworn to serve.

“It’s good to know that we can go out there and help these people, and I think it’s going to be a real rewarding experience, just being able to help and know that we’re doing something good for this town,” said Lance Cpl. Alex Nelson, Evansville, Ind., native and Marine with the 26th MEU.