MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Many Marines find out that they have to go back to Iraq just months after arriving back in the states.

Sgt. Jason E. Lyons, CH-53 helicopter mechanic, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462, reenlisted in the Marines just to go back to support Operation Iraqi Freedon II.

"I'm just glad I get a chance to do what I enlisted for," said the Plainfield, Conn., native. "I want to serve my country."

Not only did Lyons join to show his red, white and blue pride, but also to work on helicopters like his brother, who repaired airframes on CH-53s.

At his brother's Marine Corps boot camp graduation, Lyons "sealed the deal" and decided without hesitation that the Marine Corps was indeed for him. Now Lyons is a motivated devil dog who cannot wait to come into work every day.

Lyons advises other Marines to make the best of their military occupational specialty.

"Your job is what you make of it. If you wake up each morning with the wrong mentality, you are not going to be happy."

Cpl. Scott I. Cude, HMH-462 CH-53 helicopter mechanic, said Lyon's presence "is a big boost to morale."

"He's an inspiring and proficient leader," added the Baywton, Texas, native.

Lyons brought his expertise to Iraq when his squadron deployed last year. He earned a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for being a flightline supervisor and collateral duty inspector in the largest breakdown of a CH-53E Super Stallion in support of OIF in the Marine Corps.

"I feel like my job's not done. I want to go back over and continue to do my part," explained Lyons. "Someday I want my son to ask me questions on what he reads about in his history books."

In order to be a part of history, Lyons had to fight to go with his unit when they deployed to support OIF the first time.

Gunnery Sgt. John C. McGilvery, staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge at the HMH-462 flightline shop, remembers when Lyons had surgery.

"He just had an operation on his knee and became medically disqualified to go to war," said the Woodward, Iowa, native. "He convinced his doctor that he was all right and then he took his case to the commanding officer. I said, 'This Marine wants to deploy, sir,' and eventually he got his chance. Lyons wasn't going to take no for an answer."

Lyons commented, "I was not going to miss that opportunity, and I would do whatever it took to deploy."

After returning from his second deployment in Iraq, Lyons plans on attending college to become a vehicle mechanic. He also plans to get his Federal Aviation Association airframes and power plants license so he can work at an airport.

"My motto is 'Semper gumby,'" stated Lyons. "In the Marine Corps there is a lot of hurrying up and then waiting. Things are going to change constantly, but you have to stay flexible. If you have a good outlook on life, everything will work out for you."