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VOLUME 75, EDITION 46
The
GL BE SERVING CAMP LEJEUNE AND SURROUNDING AREAS SINCE 1944
Combat respite
Deployed Marines build camaraderie | 5A
Marines, sailors endure gas M chamber | 7A
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2013
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CPL. MEL JOHNSON 2nd Marine Division
Sgt. Joshua L. Moore received the Navy Cross from the Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Ray Mabus, during an awards ceremony Friday, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Moore, received the Naval service’s highest award for his extraordinary heroism while serving as a scout with scout sniper platoon, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, March 14, 2011. The Navy Cross is second only to the Medal of Honor, the military’s highest award. “It’s an honor to receive an award like the Navy Cross,” said Moore. “But to be honest, I was just doing my job.” While in a hide-site northeast of Marjah, all of the shooter-observer teams with Moore’s section were compromised and had to return to a nearby compound they previously occupied. The section came under attack again after only a few hours in the compound. “Two grenades were thrown over the north wall, and both of them hit me in the back and rolled away,” said Moore. “Fortunately they landed next to each other, and I picked the first one up and threw it out.” Moore noticed the second grenade was corroded and knew it wouldn’t explode, so he dropped after hearing the explosion of the first grenade. Under heavy machine gun fire, taking several casualties and with no positive identification of the enemy forces to the north, Moore left the compound to aid the wounded and provide security. “I looked up, and they were carrying Sgt. Tygart,” explained Moore. “At this point we were taking fire, so I had to crawl out of the building and loop round to the north to provide security while they were treating the guys inside the compound.” With the arrival of the quick reaction force and another sniper section, the Marines successfully suppressed the enemy forces, evacuated the wounded and returned to the patrol base. “Honestly, I was scared out of my mind, but I knew we had to do everything possible to get everybody home,” Moore explained. Four other Marines were awarded medals at the ceremony, to include a Bronze Star Medal with combat distinguishing device, and Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals with combat distinguishing devices, for their valor and selfless acts at the same ceremony. Sgt. Justin L. Tygart, received the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” device, and Sgt. Ritchie Elias and Cpl. Gaven Eier, were awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat “V” device. Sgt. Matthew D. Adams, was also awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat “V” device, but was unable to attend the ceremony.
Photo by Lance Cpl. Joshua W. Brown
Marines with amphibious assault vehicle platoon, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, drive past friends and family during their return home from an eight-month deployment with the 26th MEU aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Sunday. The 26th MEU, a Marine Air-Ground Task Force, was forward-deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility aboard the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group. They served as a sea-based, expeditionary crisis response force capable of conducting amphibious operations across the full range of military operations.
26th MEU returns home with its head held high CPL. MICHAEL S. LOCKETT 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
The Marines and sailors of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit returned to North Carolina Nov. 1-5, marking the end to a successful eightmonth deployment. The Marines and sailors deployed aboard the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group, sailing around the world as the nation’s crisis response force, and participating in training and theater security cooperation exercises with friendly and allied nations across oceans, continents and hemispheres. Marines and sailors of the unit participated in a number of exercises in countries spread across Europe and the Middle East, from France to Kuwait, with separate parts of the MEU often training simultaneously in a number of countries.
The 26th MEU took part in Exercises Agile Spirit in the Republic of Georgia, Eagle Resolve in Qatar, Eager Lion in Jordan, Sea Soldier in Oman and Eager Falcon in Kuwait. Workups for the deployment began in the summer of 2012, with the first major exercise going at Fort Pickett, Va. Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, served as the 26th MEU’s ground combat element, providing the strength of the MEU’s infantry fighting force. Combat Logistics Battalion 26 increased the flexibility to support MEU operations across the world and handle some of the MEU’s more esoteric missions, including disaster relief and non-combatant evacuation operations as the MEU’s logistics combat element. Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 (Reinforced) increased the range of MEU
Photo by Lance Cpl. Joshua W. Brown
Cpl. Juan Gardea, a warehouse clerk, assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit embraces his wife at the 26th MEU headquarters after returning from an eightmonth deployment with the 26th MEU aboard Camp Lejeune, Sunday. operations via MV-22B Ospreys, CH-53E Super Stallions and a variety of other assault support and attack aircraft as the aviation combat element. The 26th MEU continued
Rolling Thunder stresses the need for support PFC. DALTON PRECHT 2nd Marine Division
Marines with 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, participated in Rolling Thunder, a three-and-a-half-week-long field exercise dedicated to demonstrating the use of artillery and supporting elements. To participate in the field exercise, Marines and sailors traveled to Fort Bragg, N.C., to enhance their combat readiness and worked with supply elements paramount to field readiness. Sgt. Michael Walsh a section chief with India Battery, 10th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, who participated in his first Rolling Thunder said the exercise provides an opportunity for Marines to practice their skills as cannoneers. Along with the practice, it provides Marines a chance to see how they would perform in a combat situation. “Being the section chief puts you in charge of these Marines and the gun, along with the safety for everything on the gun line,” Walsh said. “Being in charge of the weapon system is a lot to
think about but is also a good feeling.” Walsh was in charge of gun number one for India Battery during Rolling Thunder. This meant he was in charge of nine Marines and the equipment needed to fire the weapon system. Walsh said the actual firing of the M777 155mm Lightweight Howitzer was the highlight of his job. While on the gun line, Walsh had the mission of controlling his gun and the equipment along with it. Walsh said every Marine has a job, and it is vital they know their jobs and work together to make the firing process effective. Walsh said, “There are six main jobs to firing the weapon system and each one is a crucial part to firing the gun.” Along with the artillery units who attended were support battalions that utilized the exercise as a valuable opportunity to hone their skills in support of 10th Marines. Capt. Shalinda Sprehn, the logistics officer for 10th Marines, was the regimental support area officer in charge for Rolling Thunder. Sprehn was in control
its training during the fall and winter, integrating with its aviation combat element, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron SEE MEU 4A
Inside
LHS soccer playoffs
1B
Photo by Sgt. Andrew D. Young
Cpl. Nikolas Quintero (left), motor transport, Echo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, and Lance Cpl. Tariq Jones (right), rammer, load an M107 high explosive round into an M777 howitzer during Operation Rolling Thunder aboard Fort Bragg, N.C., recently. of receiving and assigning tasks to the support battalions. Sprehn said the exercise went smoothly because the support battalions did a great job of ensuring 10th Marines had what they needed during Rolling Thunder. “We had many battalions that provided support for the regiment and it also provided great training for the support
battalions,” said Sprehn. There were five support units that attended Rolling Thunder for the useful opportunity to train in their job field. Sprehn said the Marines and sailors who attend Rolling Thunder do not get the opportunity to train aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune like they do aboard Fort Bragg.
Fall Festival full of fun, fresh flora 1C