WASHINGTON —

The U.S. Marine Corps is without a confirmed leader for the first time in a century as Gen. David Berger stepped down as commandant on Monday and a Republican senator is blocking approval of his successor.

Berger took over as the 38th commandant in July 2019, and is required to leave the job after four years. Gen. Eric Smith, currently the assistant commandant, has been nominated to be the next leader, but will serve in an acting capacity because he hasn't been confirmed by the Senate.

Under the law, Smith can serve as the acting commandant, but he can do nothing that would presume confirmation. As a result, he can't move into the main residence or the commandant's office, or issue any new formal commandant's planning guidance, which is traditional for a new leader. He has the authority to implement new policies such as budget, training and other personnel decisions.

Smith's promotion delay is the first of what could be many top level military officers held up by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. Tuberville has stalled all nominations for senior military jobs because he disagrees with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's decision to have the Defense Department pay for travel when a service member has to go out of state to get an abortion or other reproductive care. Abortion is now illegal in Alabama.

In the video player above: See moments from a Relinquishment of Office ceremony held by the U.S. Marines

Speaking at a ceremony at the Marine Barracks Washington, just down the street from Capitol Hill, Austin and Berger called on the Senate to take action.

"We need the Senate to do their job so that we can have a sitting commandant that's appointed and confirmed. We need that house to be occupied," said Berger, with a nod to the commandant's quarters at the edge of the parade field.

Austin and other Pentagon officials have pressed the Senate to move forward, saying that delays are already impacting more than 200 military officers, and many key leaders.

"You know, it's been more than a century since the U.S. Marine Corps has operated without a Senate confirmed commandant," Austin said during the ceremony.

Because of Berger's requirement to step down in July, the Marine job is the first of the military chiefs to be affected by Tuberville. The Army, Navy and Air Force are all expected to face the same delay later this year, as could the nomination of the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The current chairman, Army Gen. Mark Milley, leaves his job at the end of September. Gen. CQ Brown, the current chief of the Air Force, has been nominated to replace Milley, and is scheduled to go before the Senate Armed Services Committee for his hearing on Tuesday.

The hold, however, is also impacting scores of one, two and three-star officers who are assigned to new commands but can't move on. It also affects their families, who usually relocate over the summer to their new military communities so school-age children can settle in before fall.

"Smooth and timely transitions of confirmed leadership are central to the defense of the United States and to the full strength of the most powerful fighting force in history," said Austin. "Stable and orderly leadership transitions are also vital to maintaining our unmatched network of allies and partners. And they're crucial for our military readiness."

Smith hit the thorny issue head on during his remarks at the ceremony Monday — saying he wanted to get one thing out fast.

"If you're saying, 'what am I supposed to call you?' ACMC. That is my title, and one that I'm proud of," said Smith, using the shorthand for his assistant commandant role. But he quickly added, "to make sure that there is no confusion — all orders, directives and guidance, which were in effect this morning remain in effect, unless I direct otherwise. Further guidance to the force will follow."

Sabrina Singh, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said Monday that as of last Friday, there were 265 senior officers whose promotions have been held up by Tuberville, and that number could leap to 650 by the end of the year if the issue isn't corrected. She noted that in more than 100 cases, officers — like Smith — would be forced to do two jobs at the same time because no one can move up.

She said the Pentagon is asking officers to delay planned retirements and stay on, while in other cases officers are doing more senior ranking jobs without getting the pay for that new rank.

Later in the day, Jack Reed, D-R.I., chairman of the Senate committee, spoke on the Senate floor, asking that Smith be confirmed and criticizing Tuberville for what he called an unprecedented hold that is driving the U.S. military "to a potential breaking point.

"In General Smith we have a Purple Heart recipient — this man has literally shed his blood for his country," said Reed, who attended the Marine ceremony. "He stands ready to continue his service to our nation and the Marines he will lead for four more years. He simply awaits our action."

Tuberville, however, blocked a vote and in a Senate floor speech said the holds would have "minimal effect" on Smith's ability to lead.

"There may be a delay in his planning guidance, and yet he cannot move into the commandant's residence, but there is little doubt about General Smith's ability to lead effectively," said Tuberville.

The last time the Corps was led by an acting commandant was in 1910. Then-Maj. Gen. George Elliott, who was the commandant, reached the required retirement age in November 1910 and left the office. Col. William Biddle served as the acting commandant until he was promoted to major general and became commandant in February 1911.

Berger, a native of Woodbine, Maryland, graduated from Tulane University and was commissioned in 1981. He commanded at every level including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

During his tenure, he spearheaded a broad campaign to transform the Marine Corps to better be able to fight amphibious wars in the Pacific after years of battling terrorist groups in the Middle East. The plan was lauded by many in the Pentagon and Congress as a critical way for the Marines to prepare for a potential conflict with China.

Smith, a career infantry officer, is a highly decorated Marine who served multiple tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, including time in Fallujah and Ramadi during heavy combat in 2004 and 2005 in Operation Iraq Freedom. He later was the senior military adviser to Defense Secretary Ash Carter.

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Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.

The Marine Corps is refuting implications that Lance Cpl. Hunter Clark was the person who lifted a baby to safety at the Kabul airport.

Clark told an audience at a rally for former President Donald Trump that he is “the guy that pulled the baby over the wall.”

Trump also claimed Clark helped evacuate children over the airport wall.

In a statement, obtained by CNN, the Marine Corps said Clark is not the person in the image.

"Regarding the viral photo that began circulating around August 20, 2021, the Marine identified in that particular image was not LCpl Clark," Kelton Cochran, a spokesman for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit said in a statement.

Clark’s mother attempted to explain the situation. She told CNN that her son “helped the baby once it was lifted over the wall.”

The statement from the Marines didn’t reference whether Clark could have been handed the baby.

Clark is reportedly being investigated for participating in the Trump rally.

The Department of Defense has a policy against active-duty members participating in political events.

A week before she was killed, Sgt. Nicole Gee cradled a baby in her arms at the Kabul airport. She posted the photo on Instagram and wrote, “I love my job.”

Gee, 23, of Sacramento, California, was a maintenance technician with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

Brig. Gen. Forrest C. Poole III, commanding general of 2nd Marine Logistics Group, said his unit mourned “the immense loss of Sgt. Gee,” and the others.

Sgt. Mallory Harrison, who lived with Gee for three years, wrote about how hard the death hit her.

“I can’t quite describe the feeling I get when I force myself to come back to reality & think about how I’m never going to see her again,” Harrison wrote on Facebook. “How her last breath was taken doing what she loved — helping people. … Then there was an explosion. And just like that, she’s gone.”

Gee’s Instagram page shows another photo of her in fatigues, holding a rifle next to a line of people walking into the belly of a large transport plane. She wrote: “escorting evacuees onto the bird.”

Photos show her on a camel in Saudi Arabia, in a bikini on a Greek isle and holding a beer in Spain. One from this month in Kuwait shows her beaming with her meritorious promotion to sergeant.

Harrison said her generation of Marines hears war stories from veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, but they seem distant until “the peaceful float you were on turns into … your friends never coming home.”

Gee’s car was still parked in a lot at Camp Lejeune, and Harrison mused about all the Marines who walked past it while she was overseas.

“Some of them knew her. Some of them didn’t.” she said. “They all walked past it. The war stories, the losses, the flag-draped coffins, the KIA bracelets & the heartbreak. It’s not so distant anymore.”

LAKE WORTH, Fla. —

A Lake Worth, Florida, man celebrated his 93^rd birthday on Wednesday surrounded by family and friends.

But what Peter Ruvolo didn’t know was who else was on the guest list for his party.

After taking a seat in his driveway, Ruvolo was stunned to see a military parade turn the corner toward his home.

The Young Marines of the Palm Beaches had come to honor Ruvolo, a man who served in the Marines during World War II.

“I can’t find the words. I’m so shocked,” Ruvolo said. “My daughters have been telling me all day, ‘Don’t ask any questions!’”

The Young Marines, though, brought more than just birthday wishes.

They brought memories.

Ruvolo and his friends actually founded the Young Marines of the Palm Beaches back in the 1990s.

“There were five of us. I’m the only one left,” Ruvolo said. “And to see them here after all those years, it’s just unthinkable.”

After the march and salute, the Young Marines gathered around the World War II veteran to ask questions.

Ruvolo told them all to stay in school.

And as the day was wrapping up, Ruvolo admitted to being overwhelmed by the celebration, the memories, and the honor.

“What a thrill,” he said. “I just can’t find the words.”

With an unsurprising boost in travel this Memorial Day weekend, many businesses are preparing to welcome customers in their stores for the holidays. But for two co-owners of a business in Ellicott City, Maryland, the holiday has much deeper meaning.In Old Ellicott City, there's one shop on Main Street whose two owners witnessed from the battlefield fellow comrades in war that paid the ultimate sacrifice for the United States."Instead of concentrating on what we were doing at the time to get us out of that mindset, we thought about the business, came up with the name, the logo," said Julio Alegria, co-owner Gamers Corps.That's why for the co-owners of Gamers Corps, Memorial Day isn't just a day for traveling, but to educate through their business."Having deployed to combat five separate times myself to both Iraq and Afghanistan, I know several, if not dozens, of Marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen that never got to come home," said Marine Master Sgt. Tim McManus and co-owner of Gamers Corps.As businesses on Main Street prepare for the holiday weekend, one economist told sister station WBAL that this Memorial Day could be a much needed rebound for the entire state."Obviously, our hospitality and tourism sector are probably poised to recover partially from last year obviously, dining establishments are going to see a big boost. Some of the sporting venues are going to see a big boost in attendance," said Daraius Irani, chief economist of RESI at Towson University.And while many are traveling to the beaches or plan to enjoy some outdoor cooking, the events underway at the gaming shop are more than just a boost for their own business this weekend, but a way to honor the soldiers who aren't here by keeping their memories alive even if it's through gaming."For us, it means just to bring the community together," Alegria said."I think a lot of people need to take a second, if not a minute, to remember that the reason that they have the day off, the reason that they are going to a barbecue, or beach is not just to be with family and celebrate that they're off from work. Memorial Day is for those who have fallen and didn't get to come back," McManus said.