Michelle Obama says thank you at Camp Pendleton

First Lady Michelle Obama thanked 3,500 Marines and their family members Sunday afternoon for their service and sacrifice in two wars and pledged to “make sure your voices are heard in Washington and your needs are met.”

Obama said her husband’s administration planned to ensure that military families receive the support and benefits they need, including child care, educational assistance and medical counseling.

She also said the administration wants to make it easier for spouses to navigate the complex system of survivors’ benefits.

A hush fell over the audience when she listed the names of five Camp Pendleton Marines killed in the last week in Afghanistan. “Our prayers and support are with these fallen Marines and their families,” she said.

Obama, who visited the Wounded Warrior Barracks and met with parents of children with severe medical needs, called Camp Pendleton’s program for families a model for the rest of the nation. She also praised civilian groups in Orange, San Diego and Riverside counties for their work helping troops and their families.

“One percent of America may be fighting our wars, but 100% of America needs to be supporting you in that fight,” she said.

The first lady appeared to win over the audience with her familiarity with Marine terms, ending her speech with a rousing “Semper fi,” the Marine motto.

“It’s good to know that somebody is looking out for us,” said Patricia Ramirez, 19, wife of Cpl. Miguel Ramirez, 20.

Elizabeth Aguilar Smith, 27, whose husband, Lt. Andrew Smith, 29, previously deployed to Iraq and Africa, said Obama hit every subject that was important and with “a great deal of love.”

Michelle Leonard, 41, whose husband, Lt. Col. Scott Leonard, is deployed in Afghanistan, said the speech was particularly good for younger spouses experiencing their first or second deployment. Leonard’s husband has deployed five times in six years.

“A lot of the younger wives have no family nearby,” she said. “It’s good for them to know the first lady supports them.”

The first lady has taken a special interest in support for military families as the U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan has led to repeated troop deployments and high numbers of casualties.

Last month, she announced that the president had ordered the departments of Defense, Homeland Security Veterans Affairs and other agencies to conduct a 90-day study on how to better coordinate support for military families.

In addressing a conference of the National Military Family Assn. at Georgetown University, she agreed with the president that military families “have their own special courage and strength.” She also has hosted military families at the White House and met with Army spouses at Fayetteville, N.C., near Ft. Bragg.

The effect of repeated deployments on military spouses and children has been the subject of several research projects.

At a conference on the issue last month in San Diego, one researcher noted that the stress and anxiety felt by children of a deployed parent remains long after the parent’s return.

Another researcher reported that many military personnel are returning home with behavioral problems associated with stress and boredom, problems that can disrupt family life.

Kristin Henderson, author of a book about military families, “While They’re at War,” said families can feel isolated from those without a direct connection to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Henderson’s husband, a Navy chaplain, recently returned from Afghanistan, his fourth war zone deployment.

“While the services provided by the military have improved, the accumulated stresses have multiplied and the number of people seeking help has also gone up,” Henderson wrote in an e-mail from Japan.

“If [military personnel and veterans] are suffering from physical or psychological injuries, their families are suffering too.”

tony.perry@latimes.com