Marine Wounded Warrior unit to get new leader

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- The Marine Corps' only East Coast wounded warrior battalion is getting a new commander. Lt. Col. George S. Benson will take command of Wounded Warrior Battalion-East from Lt. Col. Thomas C. Siebenthal on Friday. The ceremony takes place at Marston Pavilion at Camp Lejeune. Benson recently returned from a 15-month deployment to Iraq. Established in 2007, the battalion was created to assist wounded, ill, and injured Marines and sailors through the recovery process. Siebenthal, from Knox, Ind., was the first commanding officer of the unit and will retire after changing command. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)