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VOLUME 75, EDITION 45
The
GL BE SERVING CAMP LEJEUNE AND SURROUNDING AREAS SINCE 1944
Service Milestones
DON’T FORGET DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME
Combat engineer becomes first female ‘Gunny’ | 3A
Empowering next generation leaders in Afghanistan | 6A
THURSDAY OCTOBER 31, 2013
WWW.LEJEUNE.MARINES.MIL
Toys for Tots program kicks off Friday LANCE CPL. JOSHUA W. GRANT
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
The Toys for Tots annual gift-giving program kicks off its campaign aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and across Onslow County, Nov. 1. The program began when Maj. Bill Hendricks and the Marines under his command wanted to give to less fortunate children during Christmas. Hendricks and his Marines collected more than 5,000 used toys during 1947, the first year of the campaign. Since its inception, Toys for Tots provided more than 216 million children with more than 469 million toys. Onslow County’s goal this year is 13,000 toys. In 1980, the Toys for Tots program no longer accepted used toys. In 1995, the Secretary of Defense approved the program as an official mission of the Marine Corps Reserve. The new toys collected are redistributed within each county to ensure they are kept within the local community, said Gunnery Sgt. Robert Patterson, Toys for Tots representative for seven Eastern North Carolina counties. “The program is designed for the children to have something to open on Christmas,” said Patterson. “If the family is struggling financially or lost their jobs, we help them with toys, and our homeless and foster children are not forgotten either.” It is important for Marines to be part of the community in which they live, said retired Maj. Brian Murray, the Toys for Tots foundation vice president of operations. Donating money or toys can make the holiday season for children a very happy time. “Toys for Tots brings the community together for about three months every year to help less fortunate families,” said Murray. “While we are helping parents give a new gift to their child or children at Christmas, we are also giving a gift of hope for the future.” Murray added the goal of Toys for Tots is to reach as many children as possible each year, and with 760 campaign sites nationally for 2013, their goal is to reach more than 7 million children this year. The local program is scheduled to end Dec. 16. Units aboard base will have their own collection sites. The main exchange will have a drop box, as well as areas in the community. For more information about the Toys for Tots program or to find a local drop site, visit www.toysfortots.org. Families can contact the Onslow County Christmas Cheer program at 347-4646 to get an application to receive toys.
Photo by Lance Cpl. Sullivan Laramie
Sgt. Chaz D. West, an explosive ordnance technician with 2nd Explosives Ordnance Disposal Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, embraces his wife, Elynne, and his unborn daughter during a homecoming event aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Saturday. Marines and sailors with 2nd EOD Co. spent seven months in Afghanistan supporting Regional Command Southwest with hazardous material disposal.
2nd EOD Company Marines, sailors return to loved ones LANCE CPL. SULLIVAN LARAMIE 2nd Marine Logistics Group
A
pproximately 77 M a rines and sailors with 2nd Explosives Ordnance Disposal Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, arrived aboard Marine Corps Base Camp
Lejeune, Saturday, following a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan. The mission of EOD is to locate, identify and remove dangerous materials such as improvised explosive devices, which pose threats to security, operations, personnel and equipment. “It’s a big deal to make it through a deployment and be able to come back and see family,” said Christo-
pher A. Scott, the family readiness officer of 8th ESB. “It’s a big day for the troops because they’ve missed seven months’ worth of things. This is just a meaningful way to welcome them back after a successful deployment.” While the Marines and sailors of the company spent seven months putting their lives on the line, they were not the only ones thankful for a safe return.
“(Before he left,) I knew he was surrounded by Marines and trained by Marines,” said Connie Hudgins, the mother of Sgt. Daniel A. Lageman, an EOD technician with the company. “I figured he was in the best hands he could be, but now I’m definitely relieved.” When the buses finally arrived and the Marines and sailors stepped off, they were met by the cheers and
2nd Med Bn trains with simulator CPL. DEVIN NICHOLS 2nd Marine Logistics Group
The mission was briefed and jobs were assigned. Marines, with their helmets strapped and flak jackets bound, mounted the humvees and 7-ton trucks. However, something was different about this convoy.” The Marines in 2nd Medical Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group did not drive in the days cold and cloudy weather. Instead, they drove through a simulated desert climate, using stationary vehicle bodies and large projection screens that displayed computercontrolled terrain. Approximately 40 Marines conducted simulated convoys, immediate action drills and patrol briefs at the Lockheed Martin Combat Convoy
Simulator, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, recently. The CCS allows troops to experience dozens of combat situations they might encounter on the road and respond realistically. “I learned a lot,” said Cpl. Katie J. Sutherland, a motor-transport operator with 2nd Med. Bn. “I didn’t go to (Combined Arms Exercise) before I deployed, so this was the only training I received before I went. It helped me a lot to learn how to drive in Afghanistan. Even though it’s a simulator, it showed me the way things happen in different situations.” The latest version uses weapons that have wireless connections to the simulation computer and the built-in capability to simulate recoil. Each simulator per vehicle costs approximately $875,000. The Marines in the
tears of loved ones who eagerly awaited their return. While many were reuniting with friends and family, some were meeting family members for the first time and others returned home in time for their children’s first moments. “Being back is fantastic,” said Sgt. Chaz D. West, an EOD technician with the company. “My wife is due in three weeks, I’m here just in time.”
Inside
Skeet shooting championship 1B
Photo by Cpl. Devin Nichols
A Marine with 2nd Medical Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, loads a Mk-19 grenade launcher simulator during a virtual convoy at the Lockheed Martin Convoy Combat Simulator aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, recently. battalion used approximately 10 simulators to conduct the virtual convoys. Each convoy simulator is located in a different room. “It was strange, be-
cause everything is moving but your truck isn’t, said Sutherland jokingly. After the simulated convoy was complete, Sgt. Ruben J. Duran, a noncommissioned of-
ficer with the battalion, debriefed the Marines on their performance and gave advice and direction for improvements before starting another simulated convoy.
Terror Town scares the scream out of visitors
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