fifteenth annual reunion of the marine corps …unitas, staff sgt. callahan returned to 1/25 and...

FIFTEENTH ANNUAL

REUNION

OF THE

MARINE CORPS ENGINEER ASSOCIATION

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC 17-19 OCTOBER, 2007

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SCHEDULE 17 OCT, WED: 1300-EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS & REUNION COORDINATORS MEETING 1700- 2100 REGISTRATION & WELCOME ABOARD SOCIAL; USO; BUSINESS CASUAL ATTIRE 18 OCT, THURS: 0800-1300 BUSINESS MEETING & BRIEFINGS; MOOSE LODGE, BREAKFAST AVAILABLE; BUSINESS CASUAL ATTIRE 1300 - 1800 OPEN TIME 1700 – COL NELSON, AWARD RECIPIENTS= PHOTOS-SVC A; CAMP LEJEUNE O’CLUB 1800 – COCKTAIL HOUR, SVC A UNIFORM; COAT & TIE / EVENING ATTIRE FOR THE LADIES; O’CLUB 1900 – BANQUET & AWARDS 19 OCT, FRI: 0730-1630, TOUR OF CAMP LEJEUNE ENGR UNITS LUNCH AT MCES MESS HALL (CASH PAYMENT REQUIRED) 20 OCT, SAT : OPEN TIME FOR INDIVIDUAL TOURS

EXEC COMMITTEE & REUNION COORD HOT WASH UP; TURNOVER OF FILES/FOLDERS FROM OUTGOING/INCOMING EC OFFICERS.

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE On behalf of our Marine Corps Engineer Association, WELCOME TO ONE & ALL!! For the 15th time, we come together to visit with our fellow Marines, shipmates, families and friends. In addition, we look forward to meeting new people, swapping war stories, sharing our pictures, memories and making new acquaintances. As in years past, we recognize the “Best of the Best” Marine Corps Engineers and EOD. We will also recognize the other half of our Marine Corps/Navy team-the “Outstanding Naval Construction Force Unit.” We offer our most heartfelt congratulations to all the individual and unit winners. You have our utmost respect for what you have done and continue to do in support of our Beloved Nation. We also will pause to remember & recognize our members who are no longer with us and who have been added to our Honor Roll; GOD bless them and their loved ones. This is especially true for SSgt Bill Callahan, whose family unites with us to memorialize the EOD technician Award in his name. We owe a special debt of gratitude to those who have worked to prepare for this reunion, especially Col Jim Marapoti, USMC (Ret) & Capt Chris Felder. All their planning and hard work has paid off; the preparation phase is complete and we’re ready to enter the execution phase. So let’s Roll!! Please enjoy yourselves and if we can do anything to assist you during the reunion, just let your Executive committee members know; especially me!!! GOD Bless you all; Semper Fidelis, Ken Frantz Col USMC (Ret) President/secretary/webmaster

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Col N. E. Rick Nelson, U. S. Marine Corps

June 2006 to Present: Director, Marine Corps Engineer School and Engineer Center of Excellence, Camp Lejeune North Carolina. Primary duties are the education and development of entry, intermediate and career level enlisted and officer engineers. Additionally, he serves as the Senior Engineer Stakeholder for the USMC. Prior to this assignment, July 2004 to May 2006: Regional Engineer Plans officer for Oceania and Southeast Asia, J4 Directorate, US Pacific Command, Camp Smith Hawaii. Responsible for Contingency Construction, Exercise Related Construction, Humanitarian Assistance and Humanitarian Civic Action and Civic Action Teams programs. Deployed as Combine Support Force 536 Engineer for Tsunami Relief Operations in Thailand, Indonesia, Sri-Lanka and the Maldives. Provided Direct Support to Special Operations Command – Pacific as Contingency Engineer for various projects and Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines operations in Southern Philippines.

Jul 2003 – Jun 2004: US Army War College, Carlisle Barracks PA. Student

Jun 2001 – Jun 2003: Commanding Officer, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Force Service Support Group, (Now 2nd Marine Logistics Group), Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Commander of Logistics Element of Air Contingency MAGTF, supporting the initial entry operations of 4th MEB units deployed into Kabul, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In Jun of 2002 reformed battalion into an Assault Bridge Battalion in direct support of 1st Marine Division for Operation Iraqi Freedom where the battalion constructed 10 bridges during ground combat operations.

July 1999 – May 2001: Regional Plans Officer, G-5 Directorate, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Responsible for 11 War Plans. Joint Planning Lead for II MEF USMC units participation and efforts within JFCOM, CENTCOM, SOUTHCOM, EUCOM and PACOM.

Col Nelson graduated from San Diego State University with a B.A. Degree in 1984. He also holds M.S. Degrees in Systems Management, Military Science and International and Strategic Studies from Capitol College, Marine Corps University and Army War College respectively. Additionally, Col Nelson is a graduate of The Basic School, Basic and Advanced Engineer Officers Courses, Airborne School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, USMC School for Advanced Warfighting, Joint Forces Staff College and the Army War College.

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Staff Sergeant William J. Callahan Staff Sgt. William (Bill) J. Callahan was born on August 15, 1978. He was the only son of Mary Ellen Callahan and the only brother of Marissa A. Callahan. Bill was raised in Hanson, Massachusetts and graduated from Whitman-Hanson high School in 1997. He was an avid Basketball player, standing at 6’5” tall and quite the Track Star. He attended St. Joseph the Worker parish, where he was an altar boy for several years. Bill excelled in whatever he did and was wise beyond his years. In January of 2003, he married his longtime girlfriend, Amy Simonsen of Easton, Massachusetts. The couple could light up any room they entered with their bright eyes and beautiful smiles. Amy and Bill made their home in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Amy and Bill soon became first time parents, to their only child, Daniel Allen Callahan; born on April 10, 2007. Bill was in Iraq during the birth of his precious son, and via telephone heard one of Danny’s first cries. In an email to his Aunt he stated; “I have never heard anything more beautiful!” Staff Sgt. Callahan joined the United States Marine Corps in September, 1997; graduating from Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island in February, 1998. Staff Sgt. Callahan reported for Rifleman training at Marine School of Infantry East at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. There he completed his training as the “Honor Grad” for which he was meritoriously promoted to Private First Class. Staff. Sgt. Callahan immediately checked into Company A, 1/25 Marines, in April of 1998 and deployed to Okinawa, Japan for Jungle Warfare Training in August 1999. During his tour in the Reserves, he was the Toys for Tots Coordinator and was a member of the Color Guard. Staff Sgt. Callahan attended Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense Specialist (NBC) School in the summer of 2001 and conducted training operations in Canada, resulting in him being awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Due to his leadership skills, Staff Sgt. Callahan was appointed Corporal of the Guard at the Congressional Medal of Honor Conference at Logan Airport, Boston, MA. During this time he also checked in to II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF) UNITAS and attended the following courses in

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preparation for a South America deployment: Combat Rubber Recon Craft Course, USMC Military Tracking Course, and Non-Lethal Weapons Course. Upon returning from IIMEF UNITAS, Staff Sgt. Callahan returned to 1/25 and deployed again to Okinawa, Japan. Upon returning home awaiting orders to Explosive Ordnance Disposal School (EOD), he worked at Recruiting Service Station Brockton, MA, serving as a Recruiters Assistant. Staff Sgt. Callahan was also a Volunteer Police Officer with Rockland, MA Police Department. In 2005, Staff Sgt. Callahan reported to EOD School. At EOD School, he was appointed the Non-Commission Officer in Charge of 25 joint service students. He also volunteered and participated in the clean up of the Florida Panhandle after Hurricane Ivan. Staff Sgt. Callahan graduated #2 in his class at EOD School and immediately reported to 2nd EOD Company, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In September 2005, Staff Sgt. Callahan deployed as an EOD Technician to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During his time he conducted numerous Explosive Ordnance Disposal combat missions where he was tasked with rendering safe Improvised Explosive Devices, destroying enemy weapons and Ordnance caches and conducting post blast analysis in Ar Ramadi. For his heroic actions he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with the Combat Distinguishing Service Device. On November 1, 2005, Staff Sgt. Callahan’s Team responded to an IED in Ar Ramadi. He expertly maneuvered the robot to the IED and emplaced a small disruption charge. After initiating the charge and confirming it was safe to proceed, Staff Sgt. Callahan exited the vehicle and proceeded to collect the IED components when a secondary IED detonated directly beneath the team’s vehicle. The blast mortally wounded the Team Corpsman and another EOD Marine and seriously wounded the Team Leader. Despite being engaged by a large volume of enemy fire and RPGs, Staff Sgt. Callahan quickly regained his bearings after being knocked down by the blast. He assisted in putting out the fire which had engulfed his Team Leader and assisted other Marines in the evacuation of the wounded. He then returned to the site and without security, proceeded over 200 meters to the blast site and once again receiving enemy fire, completed the post blast investigation. These actions demonstrate an uncommon resolve to persevere in the face of grave danger. After his Tour, he returned to 2nd EOD Company Camp Lejeune and worked in the Special Training Unit, providing specialized training to the EOD Company and deploying units in preparation for Iraq. Staff Sgt. Callahan attended the FBI Large Vehicle Post Blast Course, U.S. Army Global Anti-Terrorism Operational Readiness Course, Bill Scott Raceway Anti-Terrorism Driving Course, and the AT Solutions IED Electronics Course. He also was appointed a Team Leader for the EOD Operations on United States Secret Service Missions in support of the President of the United States. Staff Sgt. Callahan was named the United States Marine Corps Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician of the Year for 2006 by the Marine Corps Engineer Association. In February 2007, Staff Sgt. Callahan deployed for his second time to Iraq as an EOD Technician in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During his time he conducted numerous Explosive Ordnance Disposal combat missions where he was tasked again with rendering safe Improvised Explosive Devices, destroying enemy weapons and ordnance caches and conducting post blast analysis in Ar Ramadi. On April 27, 2007, Staff Sgt. Callahan was serving with 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) in support of combat operations in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. While conducting EOD procedures, on an IED to ensure the safety of his fellow Marines, military, and civilian personnel, enemy forces detonated the IED, inflicting fatal wounds to Staff Sgt. Callahan.

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Staff Sgt. Callahan’s courage, steadfast devotion to duty and personal sacrifice reflected great credit upon himself, his family, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Naval Service, and the United States of America. Staff Sgt. Callahan’s Awards: Purple Heart (Posthumously) Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal Combat Action Ribbon Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal (with 1 Bronze Star in lieu Of 2nd award) National Defense Service Medal Armed Forces Reserve medal Iraq Campaign Medal Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (with 3 Bronze Stars in lieu Of 4th award)

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2007 AWARD RECIPIENTS Combat Engineer Field Officer 1st Lt Joshua Guide 1st CEB, Camp Pendleton, CA Staff NCO GySgt Gabriel Wilson 1st CEB, Camp Pendleton, CA NCO Sgt Timothy Liners 8th ESB, Camp Lejeune, NC Marine Cpl Derrick Delaney 1st CEB, Camp Pendleton, CA Engineer Equipment Field Officer CWO3 Jose Mora 1st CEB, Camp Pendleton, CA Staff NCO GySgt John Morefield MWSS 374, 29 Palms, CA NCO Sgt William Rueppel 2nd CEB, Camp Lejeune, NC Marine LCpl Daniel Bloom 1st CEB, Camp Pendleton, CA Utilities Field Officer CWO2 Sean Flores MWSS 373, Miramar, CA Staff NCO GySgt Ernest Degastonguay 1st CEB, Camp Pendleton, CA NCO Sgt Robert Battles 1st CEB, Camp Pendleton, CA Marine LCpl Eric Nault 2nd CEB, Camp Lejeune, NC Bulk Fuel Field Officer CWO2 Kevin Pierre MWSS 273, Beaufort, SC Staff NCO GySgt Lee Duncan MWSS 371, Yuma, AZ NCO Sgt Eric Reid 8th ESB, Camp Lejeune, NC Marine Cpl William Leidig 7th ESB, Camp Pendleton, CA Explosive Ordnance Disposal Field Officer CWO4 Bradley Garfield WTBN, Quantico, VA SSgt William Callahan Memorial EOD Tech Award SSgt Logan Ballew 7th ESB, Camp Pendleton, CA Combat Engineer Battalion 2nd CEB, Camp Lejeune, NC Engineer Support Battalion 9th ESB, Okinawa, Japan Marine Wing Support Squadron, MWSS 274, Cherry Point, NC Engineer Div Outstanding Naval Construction Force Third Naval Construction Unit Regiment, Marietta, GA

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THE MARINE CORPS ENGINEER ASSOCIATION TAKES PLEASURE IN PRESENTING THE

COMBAT ENGINEER OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD TO

FIRST LIEUTENANT JOSHUA GUIDE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

FOR SERVICE SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING:

FOR HEROIC ACHIEVEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH COMBAT OPERATIONS INVOLVING CONFLICT WITH AN OPPOSING FORCE WHILE SERVING AS ENGINEER PLATOON COMMANDER, TASK FORCE 1ST BATTALION, 1ST MARINES, REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM 5, I MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE FORWARD FROM JANUARY TO AUGUST 2006 IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. FIRST LIEUTENANT GUIDE'S HEROIC ACTIONS, INDIVIDUAL COURAGE, AND EFFECTIVE COMBAT LEADERSHIP HAD AN IMMEASURABLE IMPACT ON ENEMY CAPABILITIES AND THE BATTALION'S OVERALL SUCCESS. HE LED HIS PLATOON THROUGH IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES, INDIRECT FIRE, AND SMALL ARMS FIRE ATTACKS, CAPTURING DETAINEES, AND THE DISCOVERY AND SEIZURE OF MORE THAN 120,000 WEAPONS AND ORDNANCE ITEMS TO INCLUDE MORE THAN 100 ARTILLERY ROUNDS, 70 TANK ROUNDS, 1000 RPG ROUNDS, 100 ROCKETS AND MISSILES, 1000 MORTAR ROUNDS, AND MORE THAN 150 GRENADES. HIS ACTIONS INTERDICTED ENEMY ACTIVITY AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED INSURGENT ATTACKS THROUGHOUT THE AREA OF OPERATIONS. ON 3 MAY WHEN HIS PLATOON WAS ATTACKED BY MORE THAN TEN INSURGENTS, FIRST LIEUTENANT GUIDE EFFECTIVELY LED HIS ENGINEERS IN THE CAPTURE OF THREE INSURGENTS WHO HAD STAGED THE ATTACK. HE CONSTRUCTED FOUR SEPARATE COMPANY FORWARD OPERATING BASES, BUILT BRIDGES, MENTORED AND TRAINED THE IRAQI ARMY, AND IN EACH TASK PERFORMED FLAWLESSLY. DESPITE COVERING TWO SEPARATE AREAS OF OPERATIONS FOR A PORTION OF THE DEPLOYMENT, FIRST LIEUTENANT GUIDE'S OVERALL IMPACT ON BATTALION OPERATIONS EXCEEDED WHAT COULD BE EXPECTED FROM A SINGLE PLATOON WITH SO FEW MEN. BY HIS ZEALOUS INITIATIVE, COURAGEOUS ACTIONS, AND EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION TO DUTY, FIRST LIEUTENANT GUIDE REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

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COMBAT ENGINEER STAFF NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD TO

GUNNERY SERGEANT GABRIEL WILSON UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS


SERVING AS PLATOON COMMANDER, TASK FORCE VANGUARDE, COMPANY C, 1ST COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION, REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM 6, II MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE (FORWARD), FROM OCTOBER 2006 TO APRIL 2007 IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 05-07 AND 06-08, GUNNERY SERGEANT WILSON WORKED TIRELESSLY DURING HIS COMBAT TOUR TO COUNTER THE ENEMY’S WEAPON OF CHOICE, THE IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE. THE ROUTE CLEARANCE TEAM THAT HE LED IN PURSUIT OF THIS MISSION OPERATED IN THE MOST PERILOUS PORTIONS OF AREA OF OPERATIONS RALEIGH AND DISCOVERED MORE THAN 120 OF THE LETHAL DEVICES IN THE PROCESS. ON MORE THAN 140 MISSIONS, HIS PLATOON SUSTAINED 39 IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE ATTACKS AND BRAVED ENEMY SMALL ARMS FIRE, ROCKET PROPELLED GRENADES, AND INDIRECT FIRE ON SEEMINGLY EVERY MISSION. HIS TACTICAL INGENUITY, INTREPID LEADERSHIP, AND SOUND GUIDANCE DURING THESE KINETIC ENGAGEMENTS WERE CRUCIAL IN NOT ONLY REPELLING ENEMY ATTACKS, BUT AGGRESSIVELY AND DECISIVELY ENGAGING THE ENEMY WITH OVERWHELMING FIRES. IN ONE PARTICULAR INCIDENT, HIS CONVOY WAS INTERROGATING AN IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE WHEN HIS VEHICLE WAS ATTACKED BY A ROCKET AND THE ENEMY ENGAGED HIS CONVOY WITH SMALL ARMS FIRE FROM MULTIPLE, MOVING TARGETS. PATIENT AND CALM, HE RELAYED GUIDANCE TO HIS GUNNERS OVER THE RADIO, PERSONALLY LED THE MARINES IN HIS VEHICLE IN DECISIVELY ENGAGING THE ENEMY, AND RENDERED SAFE AN IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE SIMULTANEOUSLY. BY HIS ZEALOUS INITIATIVE, COURAGEOUS ACTIONS, AND EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION TO DUTY, GUNNERY SERGEANT WILSON REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

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COMBAT ENGINEER NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD TO

SERGEANT TIMOTHY LINERS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS


DURING THE ENTIRE PERIOD, SERGEANT TIMOTHY LINERS PERFORMED HIS DUTIES IN AN EXEMPLARY AND HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL MANNER CONSISTENTLY PROVING TO BE A COMBAT MULTIPLIER DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. SGT LINERS SHOWED UNCOMMON VERSATILITY AND LEADERSHIP CAPABILITY BY ASSUMING THE PLATOON GUIDE BILLET NORMALLY FILLED BY A SSGT AND PUSHING THE MARINES IN HIS CHARGE TO EXCELLENCE DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF BOTH A BRIDGE TRAINING FACILITY AT CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. AND HARD STAND STRUCTURES AT PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. THAT WERE BOTH COMPLETED AHEAD OF SCHEDULE WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS. THROUGHOUT THE PRE-DEPLOYMENT AND DEPLOYMENT IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 06-08.1, SGT LINERS HAS CONTINUED TO RAISE THE BAR FOR THE OTHER NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS IN THE COMPANY. HIS QUICK THINKING AND UNSELFISHNESS DURING A SUICIDE VEHICLE BORN IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE ATTACK IN THE AL ANBAR PROVINCE BOTH STEADIED THE RESOLVE OF MARINES UNDER HIS COMMAND TO FINISH THE MISSION AND HELPED TO SAVE THE LIFE OF AN INJURED WARRIOR AS WELL. SERGEANT LINERS’ INITIATIVE, UNWAVERING PERSERVERENCE, AND TOTAL DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

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COMBAT ENGINEER MARINE OF THE YEAR AWARD TO

CORPORAL DERRICK DELANEY UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS


SERVING AS COMBAT ENGINEER, COMPANY C, 1ST COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION, REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAMS 5 & 6, II MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE (FORWARD), FROM JULY 2006 TO FEBRUARY 2007 IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 05-07.2, CORPORAL DELANEY PARTICIPATED IN OVER 50 COMBAT MISSIONS, DISCOVERING OVER 100 WEAPONS CACHES AND OVER 3,000 POUNDS OF EXPLOSIVES. HIS AGGRESSIVE ATTITUDE SERVED AS THE BACKBONE OF A SQUAD TASKED WITH A MULTITUDE OF COMBAT ENGINEER MISSIONS. HIS EAGERNESS TO TACKLE ANY TASK INSPIRED HIS SQUAD AND HIS BOLD ACTIONS UNDER FIRE WERE CRITICAL DURING SEVERAL ENEMY ENGAGEMENTS. ON ONE CONVOY, LANCE CORPORAL DELANEY WAS SERVING AS THE GUNNER IN THE LEAD VEHICLE WHEN HIS CONVOY SUSTAINED A COMPLEX ATTACK OF IEDS, RPGS, AND SMALL ARMS FIRE. IMMEDIATELY, HE BROUGHT A RELENTLESS VOLUME OF FIRE ON THE ENEMY WITH HIS M240G; HIS ACCURATE FIRE AND INSTINCTIVE ACTIONS HELPED TO FEND OFF THE COMPLEX ATTACK. CORPORAL DELANEY'S COURAGEOUS ACTIONS, INITIATIVE, AND COMPLETE DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

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ENGINEER EQUIPMENT OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD TO

CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 3 JOSE MORA UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS


SERVING AS ENGINEER SUPPORT PLATOON COMMANDER, COMPANY B, 1ST COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION, REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM 5, I MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE FORWARD FROM MARCH TO OCTOBER 2006 IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. DEMONSTRATING EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE, CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 3 MORA LED A THREE SECTION, 47 MARINE PLATOON ENCOMPASSING 13 JOB SPECIALTIES. HE MADE IMMEDIATE IMPACTS TO MAINTENANCE READINESS, HAZARDOUS MATERIAL HANDLING, SAFETY AND MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT WHILE PARTICIPATING IN MORE THAN 20 ENGINEER MISSIONS OR CONVOYS TO SUPPORT ROUTE CLEARANCE EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE. UNDER CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 3 MORA'S LEADERSHIP, HAZARDOUS MATERIAL WAS RATED THE BEST ON CAMP FALLUJAH, EQUIPMENT READINESS REMAINED ABOVE 80 PERCENT, AND MORE THAN 200 MOTOR TRANSPORTATION, HEAVY EQUIPMENT AND UTILITIES MISSIONS WERE SUCCESSFULLY ACCOMPLISHED FOR REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM 5. IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM’S FRAGMENTARY ORDER AND KEEP THE TRUCKS ON THE ROAD, CWO3 MORA EXHIBITED SUPERIOR RESOURCEFULNESS AND EXPLORED THE 3RD ECHELON SCRAP LOT TO FIND USABLE AIR CONDITIONING UNITS FROM VEHICLES STRUCK BY IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES. HE CONSISTENTLY LED FROM THE FRONT DESPITE THE CONSTANT DANGER OF COMBAT OPERATIONS AGAINST A DETERMINED ENEMY. CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 3 MORA'S INITIATIVE, PERSEVERANCE AND TOTAL DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

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ENGINEER EQUIPMENT STAFF NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD TO

GUNNERY SERGEANT JOHN MOREFIELD UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS


FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS HEAVY EQUIPMENT CHIEF FOR ENGINEER COMPANY, MARINE WING SUPOORT SQUADRON 374, MARINE WING SUPPORT GROUP 37, 3D MARINE AIRCRAFT WING FROM 1 APRIL 2006 TO 31 MARCH 2007. DURING OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 05-07, GUNNERY SERGEANT MOREFILED WAS UNDER DIRECT AND INDIRECT FIRE WHILE LEADING A CONVOY OUTSIDE THE FORWARD OPERATING BASE AT CAMP CORREGIDOR IN RAMADI. HE DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF BY SHOWING PROFICIENCY AND EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP WHEN HIS CONVOY WAS ATTACKED WITH TWO IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES AND SMALL ARMS FIRE. DESPITE THE ONSLAUGHT OF ENEMY FIRE, GUNNERY SERGEANT MOREFIELD DEMONSTATRED COMPOSURE AND CONFIDENCE BY INSTINCTIVELY COMMUNICATING TO THE HIGHER COMMAND ELEMENT FOR FIRE SUPPORT AND BY DIRECTING COMBAT ACTIONS AT THE AMBUSH SITE. HIS INTUITIVE LEADERSHIP AND COMMAND PRESENCE ALLOWED THE MARINES TO SUPPRESS THE ENEMY ATTACK WITHOUT A SINGLE FRIENDLY CASUALTY. GUNNERY SERGEANT MOREFIELD’S ENGINEER EXPERTISE HAS BEEN PROVEN IN ALL FACETS OF CONSTRUCTION. HE SUPERVISED 12,756 HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATIONAL HOURS IN SUPPORT OF OPERATIONS AT AL TAQADDUM, IRA2W AS WELL AS THE CONSTRUCTION OF 7,920 FEET OF ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE IN FALLUJAH IN ORDER TO IMPROVE MOBILITY OF 2D MARINE HEADQUARTERS GROUP. HIS EXCEPTIONAL MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY PROFICIENCY AND STEADFAST DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

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ENGINEER EQUIPMENT NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD TO

SERGEANT WILLIAM RUEPPEL UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS


FOR SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF DUTY WHILE SERVING AS 1ST SQUAD LEADER, ENGINEER EQUIPMENT PLATOON, ENGINEER SUPPORT COMPANY 2ND COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION, 2ND MARINE DIVISION 1 APRIL 2006 TO 31 MARCH 2007. SERGEANT RUEPPEL’S SEEMINGLY ENDLESS KNOWLEDGE, TOTAL PROFESSIONALISM, AND COMPLETE DEDICATION TO MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT DIRECTLY BENEFITED EVERY BATTALION OPERATION. HIS WILLINGNESS TO ADAPT AND ABILITY TO PERFORM IN ANY SITUATION SET AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE FOR EVERY MARINE IN HIS SQUAD. HE PARTICIPATED IN MULTIPLE MISSIONS WHILE DEPLOYED IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND WAS COMBAT MERITORIOUSLY PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF SERGEANT. HE ENSURED THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF MORE THAN 20 SUCCESSFUL MISSIONS FOR REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM-7, COMPANY A’S, ROUTE CLEARING TEAM, THE REPAIRING OF FIRM BASE CAMP HIT, AND F.O.B. REHANNAH AND RAWAH IN THE AL ANBAR PROVINCE. HIS DEPTH AND WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT NOT ONLY SERVED AS A SOURCE OF TEACHING AND MOTIVATION TO FELLOW OPERATORS BUT ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE EFFORTS OF THE 2ND COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION. SERGEANT RUEPPEL’S INITIATIVE, STRONG WORK ETHIC AND DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND ARE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

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ENGINEER EQUIPMENT MARINE OF THE YEAR AWARD TO

LANCE CORPORAL DANIEL BLOOM UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS


SERVING AS ROUTE CLEARANCE OPERATOR, COMPANY C, 1ST COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION, REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAMS 5 & 6, II MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE (FORWARD), FROM JULY 2006 TO FEBRUARY 2007 IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 05-07.2, LANCE CORPORAL BLOOM WORKED TIRELESSLY DURING HIS COMBAT TOUR TO COUNTER THE ENEMY’S WEAPON OF CHOICE, THE IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE. LANCE CORPORAL BLOOM'S EFFORTS WERE VITAL IN CLEARING 2810 KILOMETERS OF ROUTES WITHIN THE REGIMENT'S AREA OF OPERATIONS. WHILE OPERATING THE HUSKY ON 73 MISSIONS, HE PERSONALLY IDENTIFIED 61 IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES. HE BRAVELY CONTINUED THE MISSION DESPITE BEING DIRECTLY ATTACKED BY FIVE IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES, TWO OF WHICH RENDERED HIS VEHICLE IMMOBILE. LANCE CORPORAL BLOOM'S DEVOTION TO THE ROUTE CLEARANCE EFFORT WAS CONSISTENTLY EVIDENT REGARDLESS OF THE TASK. WHETHER OPERATING THE HUSKY, DRIVING THE COUGAR, ASSISTING WITH MAINTENANCE AND MODIFICATIONS, OR PROVIDING SECURITY AS A TURRET GUNNER, HIS ACTIONS UNDOUBTEDLY SAVED THE LIVES OF COALITION FORCE PERSONNEL. LANCE CORPORAL BLOOM'S COURAGEOUS ACTIONS, INITIATIVE, AND COMPLETE DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

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UTILITIES OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD TO

CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 2 SEAN FLORES UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

FOR SERVICE SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING: FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE AS UTILITIES OFFICER IN CHARGE, MARINE WING SUPPORT SQUADRON 373, MARINE WING SUPPORT GROUP 37, 3D MARINE AIRCRAFT WING FORWARD, FROM 01 APRIL 2006 TO 31 MARCH 2007. WARRANT OFFICER FLORES DEMONSTRATED UNSURPASSED DRIVE AND UNPARALLELED DEVOTION TO DUTY WHILE LEADING MARINES IN VARIOUS UTILITIES SUPPORT MISSIONS ABOARD AL TAQADDUM AIRFIELD AND SOMETIMES ACROSS AL ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ. HIS ATTITUDE AND DECENTRALIZED LEADERSHIP ALLOWED HIS MARINES TO ACCOMPLISH MISSIONS WELL BEYOND THE NORMAL RANGE OF CAPABILITIES FOUND WITHIN A MARINE WING SUPPORT SQUADRON. AS A MISSION COMMANDER, HIS LEADERSHIP AND EXPERTISE WERE CRUCIAL TO THE EMERGENCY ELECTRICAL REPAIRS MADE TO A FOUR STORY STRCUTURE AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HELICOPTER LANDING ZONE AT FORWARD OPERATING BASE-RIVIERA. THESE COMBINED EFFECTS GREATLY IMPROVED THE SAFETY, FORCE PROTECTION, AND LIVING CONDITIONS FOR COLAITION AND IRAQI FORCES AND PROVIDED THE MEANS TO AIR-EVACUATE URGENT WOUNDED OUT OF THIS AUSTERE OUTPOST. WARRANT OFFICER FLORES’ INITIATIVE, PERSERVERANCE, AND SELFLESS DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

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UTILITIES STAFF NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD TO

GUNNERY SERGEANT ERNEST DEGASTONGUAY UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS


SERVING AS UTILITIES MAINTENANCE CHIEF AND PLATOON SNCOIC OF ENGINEER SUPPORT COMPANY, AND UTILITIES SECTION LEADER OF SUPPORT PLATOON, COMPANY B, 1ST COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION, 1ST MARINE DIVISION. IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM II AND WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE, SSGT DEGASTONGUAY ORGANIZED, PREPARED, AND EMBARKED THIRTY GENERATORS, TRAILERS, AND SL-3 ITEMS ABOARD NAVAL SHIPS IN A 48-HOUR PERIOD. CONFIDENTLY PROFICIENT, SSGT DEGASTONGUAY WAS RESONSIBLE FOR 215 UTILITIES EQUIPMENT MAJOR END ITEMS, ACCURATELY IDENTIFYING GENERATOR REPLACEMENT CANDIDATES FOR ROTATION WITH NEW GENERATOR ASSETS. FURTHERMORE, SSGT DEGASTONGAUY VALIDATED THE ACCURATE REQUISTIONING OF MORE THAN $500,000 IN INTERIOR WIRING SUPPLIES AND AIR CONDITIONING UNITS PRIOR TO THE REGIMENTAL CONTRACTING OFFICER MAKING PURCHASES FOR ELECTRICAL LIFE SUPPORT EQUIPMENT. UPON ARRIVING AT CAMP FALLUJAH FOR OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 05-07.1, STAFF SERGEANT DEGASTONGUAY SUPERVISED THE UTILITIES SECTION'S IMPROVEMENT FROM 71% READINESS TO 96% READINESS. DURING OPERATION HAMMERHEAD, HE LED TWELVE MARINES IN THE DEMILITARIZATION OF OBSERVATION POST MANSION TO RESHAPE THE BATTLEFIELD FOR 3RD BATTALION, 5TH MARINES. STAFF SERGEANT DEGASTONGUAY'S INITIATIVE, PERSEVERANCE, AND TOTAL DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

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UTILITIES NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD TO

SERGEANT ROBERT BATTLES UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS


SERVING AS UTILITIES OPERATIONS NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER IN CHARGE, COMPANY C, 1ST COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION, REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM 6, II MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE (FORWARD), FROM SEPTEMBER 2006 TO APRIL 2007 IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 06-08. SERGEANT BATTLES SPEARHEADED SEVERAL KEY PROJECTS THAT WERE VITAL IN ENSURING UNINTERRUPTED POWER WAS PROVIDED TO THE OPERATING UNITS OF THE REGIMENT. THE OUTSTANDING UTILITIES SUPPORT PROVIDED BY HIM AND HIS MARINES SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED THE SUSTAINMENT AND HABITABILITY OF OVER 20 KEY POSITIONS WITHIN THE REGIMENT’S AO. KNOWING THE EFFECTS OF LOSING COMMUNICATIONS DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS AND EXERCISING INITIATIVE, SERGEANT BATTLES CONDUCTED AN EVALUATION OF THE REGIMENTAL COMMUNICATIONS POWER GRID AND DISCOVERED AN INADEQUATE SYSTEM THAT WAS HAZARDOUS TO THE SAFETY OF HIS FELLOW MARINES. HE IMMEDIATELY ORDERED THE NECESSARY MATERIALS AND BEGAN THE ARDUOUS TASK OF REPLACING THE ENTIRE GRID. SERGEANT BATTLES’ INITIATIVE, PERSEVERANCE, AND TOTAL DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

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UTILITIES MARINE OF THE YEAR AWARD TO

LANCE CORPORAL ERIC NAULT UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS


LANCE CORPORAL ERIC NAULT IS RECOGNIZED FOR SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE AS A UTILITIES MARINE, 4TH SQUAD, 1ST PLATOON, COMPANY C, 2D COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION FROM 1 APRIL 2006 TO 31 MARCH 2007. THROUGHOUT THE NINE MONTH DEPLOYMENT, LANCE CORPORAL NAULT ASSISTED IN THE ELECTRICAL WIRING OF TWO COMPANY SIZED OPS, SIX PLATOON SIZED OPS, AND TWO IRAQI POLICE STATIONS. ALSO, LANCE CORPORAL NAULT, ALTHOUGH NOT A GENERATOR MECHANIC, WAS ABLE TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN MANY OF THE GENERATORS THAT WERE PROVIDING POWER TO THE MARINES LIVING IN THE CITY. HIS CAPABILITY TO MANAGE BOTH THE BATTALIONS ELECTRICAL AND GENERATOR NEEDS GREATLY ENSURED THE SUSTAINMENT OF DAILY OPERATIONS OF THE BATTALION AND THE WELFARE OF THE MARINES. THROUGH HIS EXEMPLARY KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL, LANCE CORPORAL NAULT ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS THE DUTY EXPERT IN ALL MATTERS PERTAINING TO ELECTRICAL WORK AND GENERATOR MAINTENANCE WITHIN THE PLATOON. HIS EFFORTS AT 17TH STREET SECURITY STATION HAS GREATLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE MARINES LIVING WITHIN THESE OBSERVATION POSTS. THROUGH THE COURSE OF HIS WORK, LANCE CORPORAL NAULT ROUTINELY DISPLAYED TREMENDOUS INGENUITY IN HIS ABILITY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, WHILE HIS REFUSAL TO SETTLE FOR SUBSTANDARD WORK OR WASTE MATERIALS GUARANTEED THAT ANY PROJECT HE WAS ASSIGNED TO WOULD TURN OUT SUPERB. LANCE CORPORAL NAULT’S INITIATIVE, PERSEVERANCE, AND TOTAL DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

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BULK FUEL OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD TO

CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 2 KEVIN PIERRE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

FOR SERVICE SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING: FOR OUSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND EXPERTISE AS FUELS PLATOON COMMANDER, AIRFIELD OPERATIONS COMPANY, MARINE WING SUPPORT SQUADRON 273, MARINE WING SUPPORT GROUP 27, 2D MARINE AIRCRAFT WING FROM APRIL 2006 TO MARCH 2007. DURING THIS PERIOD, CWO2 PIERRE PREPARED, TRAINED AND LED HIS PLATOON EXECUTING REFUELING OPERATIONS IN TRAINING AND COMBAT. SUPPORTING AVIATION AND GROUND PERSONNEL WITH A 24 HOUR REFUELING CAPABILITY DURING OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 05-07, HE EXPERTLY OVERSAW REFUELING OPERATIONS ON AL QA’IM AND AL ASAD AIRBASE, THE MOST HEAVILY TRAFFICKED AIRBASE IN WESTERN IRAQ. CWO2 PIERRE SUPERVISED THE INCIDENT FREE DISPENSING OF OVER 29 MILLION GALLONS OF JP-8 FUEL IN OVER 29,000 AIRCRAFT, COMBAT VEHICLE AND GENERATOR REFUELING EVENTS. ADDITIONALLY, HE PROVIDED GROUND REFUELING SUPPORT FOR UNIT VEHICLES AND CIVILIAN FACILITIES THROUGHOUT AL ANBAR PROVINCE. AS A RESULT, THE REFUELING OF AIRCRAFT AND TACTICAL VEHICLES PROJECTED COMBAT POWER TO UNITS OPERATING THROUGHOUT THE CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY. CWO2 PIERRE’S TACTICAL PROWESS, LEADERSHIP AND TOTAL DEDICATION TO HIS MISSION REFLECT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

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BULK FUEL STAFF NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD TO

GUNNERY SERGEANT LEE DUNCAN UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS


FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE WHILE SERVING AS THE FUELS CHIEF, MARINE WING SUPPORT SQUADRON 371, MARINE WING SUPPORT GROUP 27, 2D MARINE AIRCRAFT WING, 2D MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, U.S. MARINE FORCES ATLANTIC FROM 1 APRIL 2006 TO 31 MARCH 2007. DURING THIS PERIOD, GUNNERY SERGEANT DUNCAN COORDINATED AND EXECUTED OVER 100 SEPARATE TACTICAL FUEL MISSIONS THROUGHOUT SOURTHERN CALIFORNIA AND ARIZONA, ISSUING IN EXCESS OF 200,000 GALLONS OF JP-8 TO 788 AIRCRAFT. AS THE PROMINENT EXPERT FOR PLANNING AND EXECUTING TACTICAL REFUELING MISSIONS, HE HAS TRAINED OVER 50 MARINES IN ALL ASPECTS OF AVIATION GROUD SUPPORT, AND HELPED TO ENSURE A FUTURE OF KNOWLEDGABLE YOUNG LEADERS WITHIN THE PETROLEUM COMMUNITY. SINCE DEPLOYING TO IRAQ IN MARCH 2007, HE HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR A 400,000 GALLON TACTICAL AIRFIELD FUEL DISPENSING SYSTEM THAT HAS ALREADY ISSUED 630,000 GALLONS OF FUEL TO OVER 3200 COALITION AIRCRAFT. GUNNERY SERGEANT DUNCAN’S SUPERB GUIDANCE ALLOWED HIM TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE A COMPLEX FUEL FACILITY AND VARIED WORK FORCE IN ORDER TO MEET A DEMANDING AVIATION FUELS PROGRAM. HIS VAST TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND KEEN MANAGERIAL SKILLS ENSURED THAT ALL AIRCRAFT REFUELING SERVICES WERE PERFORMED IN A HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL, NON-STOP MANNER. THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE AWARD PERIOD GUNNERY SERGEANT DUNCAN’S PERFORMANCE REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

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BULK FUEL NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD TO

SERGEANT ERIC REID UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS


FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE OF DUTES WHILE ASSIGNED TO ALPHA COMPANY, 8TH ENGINEER SUPPORT BATTALION, 2D MARINE LOGISTICS GROUP, 2D MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, U.S. MARINE CORPS FORCES ATLANTIC FROM 1 APRIL 2006 TO 31 MARCH 2007. DURING THIS PERIOD, SERGEANT REID PERFORMED HIS DUTIES IN AN EXEMPLARY AND HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL MANNER. HE WAS A KEY MEMBER AND INTEGRAL PART OF 8TH ENGINEER SUPPORT BATTALION’S BULK FUEL COMPANY AND COMBAT LOGISTICS BATTALION 2. DURING OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 06-08.1, SERGEANT REID TRANSFORMED AND EXPANDED A SUB PAR FUEL FARM TO AN EFFICIENT, WELL ORGANIZED ENVIRONMENT WHICH WAS QUICKLY RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE PREMIER FUEL FARMS IN AL ANBAR PROVINCE. IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDED EXPANSION OF STORAGE CAPACITY BY 40,000 GALLONS AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF SUN SHADES FOR ALL FUEL BLADDERS CONTAINING MOGAS, PROTECTIVE STRUCTURES FOR ALL 600 GPM PUMPS AND CONTAINMENT FOR ALL RECEIPT AND ISSUE POINTS. ACTING UNSELFISHLY, SERGEANT REID VOLUNTEERED TO OPERATE THE TACTICAL RE-FUELER, FURTHER SUPPORTING TASK FORCE 1/4 ON ALL RE-SUPPLY MISSIONS. HE PERSONALLY COMPLETED OVER 40 REFUELING MISSIONS, ISSUING OVER 58,000 GALLONS OF FUEL TO AL QAIM’S ADJACENT BATTLE POSITIONS. HIS SUPERIOR LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION WERE PARAMOUNT TO THE SUCCESS OF ENGINEER COMPANY, DETACHEMENT AL QAIM AND COMBAT LOGISTICS BATTALION 2. SERGEANT REID’S DILIGENT EFFORTS AND UNRELENTING RESOURCEFULNESS HAS EARNED HIM THE RESPECT AND ADMIRATION OF ALL THOSE WHO OBSERVED HIM. SERGEANT REID’S PROFESSIONAL ABILITY, INITIATIVE AND LOYAL DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECT GREAT CREDIT UNON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

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BULK FUEL MARINE OF THE YEAR AWARD TO

CORPORAL WILLIAM LEIDIG UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS


FOR OUTSTANING PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING AS PUMP OPERATOR FOR 1ST BULK FUEL COMPANY, 7TH ENGINEER SUPPORT BATTALION, 1ST MARINE LOGISTICS GROUP, MARINE FORCES PACIFIC FROM APRIL 2006 TO MARCH 2007. LANCE CORPORAL LEIDIG WAS ASSIGNED TO JOINT SERVICE TRAINING WITH THE ARMY QUARTER MASTER BATTALION. LANCE CORPORAL LEIDIG SERVED IN NUMEROUS BILLETS AND ASSISTED IN THE PLANNING, COORDINATION, AND EXECUTION OF REPLACING 72 JP-8, 8 MOGAS, AND 4 DIESEL 50,000 GALLON COLLAPSIBLE PETROLEUM TANKS DURING OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 05-07.1. DURING HIS DEPLOYMENT AS LINE WALKER/TANK FARM NCOIC, LANCE CORPORAL LEIDIG ISSUED OVER 2.5 MILLION GALLONS OF JP-8, RECEIVED OVER 1.4 MILLION GALLONS, AND TRANSFERRED OVER 1.3 MILLION GALLONS. LANCE CORPORAL LEIDIG WAS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR PULLING FUEL SAMPLES, PERFORMING PREVENTIVE MAINTENACE ON 600 GPM PUMPS, AND COMPONENTS TO THE FUEL FARM SYSTEM. HE ALSO MANNED A CREW SERVED WEAPON ON A MTVR 7-TON DUMP TRUCK ON 4 DAY CONVOYS FROM AL-ASAD TO THE JORDANIAN BORDER CONTROL CENTER AND PARTICIPATED IN THE JORDANIAN PETROLEUM CONVOYS OF 35 PETROLEUM TRACTOR TRAILERS. ADDITIONALLY, HE PROVIDING ESCORT SECURITY TO KOREAN VILLAGE AND AL-ASAD ENSURING A CONSTANT SUPPLY OF FUEL TO COALITON FORCES. LANCE CORPORAL LEIDIG’S SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF DUTY REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, THE MARINE CORPS, AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

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EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD TO

CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 4 BRADLEY GARFIELD UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS


FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE DYNAMIC ENTRY SCHOOL (DES), WEAPONS TRAINING BATTALION, QUANTICO, VIRGINIA FROM 1 APRIL 2006 TO 31 MARCH 2007. DISPLAYING SUPERB TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, MANAGERIAL ACUMEN, AND AN EXCEPTIONALLY PROACTIVE APPROACH, CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER GARFIELD PERFORMED HIS DUTIES IN AN EXEMPLARY AND HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL MANNER, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME DEVOTING HIS TIME AND TALENTS TO IMPROVE OTHERS. CWO GARFIELD'S LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE, UNTIRING DEVOTION TO DUTY, AND COMMITMENT TO MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT HAS MADE FAR-REACHING AND LONG-LASTING IMPACTS TO THE MARINE CORPS’ FORMAL SCHOOL’S PROGRAM AND SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMUNITY. HIS CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE IMPROVED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HIS SCHOOL’S TRAINING CURRICULUM AS WELL AS INCREASED EFFICIENCY OF LABOR AND STUDENT THROUGHPUT. CWO 4 GARFIELD HAS MADE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MARINE CORPS, AND VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES; CONTRIBUTIONS WHICH CONTINUE TO ESTABLISH THE MARINE CORPS AS THE PREEMINENT FIGHTING FORCE. CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 4 GARFIELD'S PROFESSIONALISM, INITIATIVE, AND SELFLESS DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECT GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

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SSGT WILLIAM CALLAHAN MEMORIAL EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD TO

STAFF SERGEANT LOGAN BALLEW UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS


FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICE IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS AN EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL TECHNICIAN, 7TH ENGINEER SUPPORT BATTALION, 1ST FORCE SERVICE SUPPORT GROUP, FROM 1 SEPTEMBER 2006 TO 31 MARCH 2007. THROUGHOUT THIS PERIOD, STAFF SERGEANT BALLEW PERFORMED HIS DUTIES IN AN EXEMPLARY AND HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL MANNER. AS AN EOD TECHNICIAN DURING OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, HIS GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION SERVED TO ENHANCE FORCE PROTECTION MEASURES, IMPROVE PROCEDURES FOR IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE DISARMAMENT, AND INCREASE MOBILITY THROUGHOUT I MEF’S AO. HE HELPED LEAD AN EOD TEAM IN CLEARING AN UNPARALLELED NUMBER OF IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE FREE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AND MANY LIVES SAVED. AFTER BEING SEVERELY WOUNDED AT THE END OF HIS LAST TOUR IN IRAQ, AND IN THE MIDST OF UNDERGOING NUMEROUS PAINFUL MEDICAL SURGERIES AND REHABILITATION, STAFF SERGEANT BALLEW CONTINUED TO INSPIRE MARINES OF ALL RANKS WITHIN THE BATTALION. REFUSING TO STAY WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE WOUNDED WARRIOR BARRACKS, STAFF SERGEANT BALLEW TIRELESSLY TOOK ON ADDITIONAL DUTIES WITHIN THE EOD COMPANY IN ORDER TO FREE MARINES TO TRAIN FOR CONTINUOUS SIX MONTH DEPLOYMENT ROTATION CYCLES. STAFF SERGEANT BALLEW’S OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP, COMMENDABLE SELFLESSNESS, PROFESSIONALISM AND TOTAL DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

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COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION OF THE YEAR TO

2ND COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION


FOR SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVMENT IN THE FIELD OF COMBAT ENGINEERING FROM 1 APRIL 2006 TO 31 MARCH 2007; THE MEMBERS OF 2D COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION OVERCAME TREMENDOUS DANGER AND ADVERSITY TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL COMBAT SUPPORT TO MARINE INFANTRY UNITS. WITH NEARLY 50 PERCENT OF THE BATTALION DEPLOYED TO OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND ON MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT DEPLOYMENTS DURING THIS TIME FRAME, THE BATTALION HAS SERVED WITH GREAT DISTINCTION, PROVIDING FULL SPECTRUM COMBAT ENGINEER SUPPORT TO A WIDE VARIETY OF UNITS. MEMBERS OF THE BATTALION THAT WERE DEPLOYED TO OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM ACCOMPLISHED MANY MISSIONS TO INCLUDE ROUTE CLEARANCE, FORCE PROTECTION ENHANCEMENTS, ENEMY CACHE REDUCTION, URBAN BREACHING, DEMOLITION AND UTILITIES SUPPORT. IN SO DOING, THEY MADE A MAJOR POSITIVE IMPACT ON COMBAT OPERATIONS, AND SAVED THE LIVES OF MARINES, SOLDIERS, SAILORS AND CIVILIANS. BACK AT HOME THE BATTALION ACCOMPLISHED A MULTITUDE OF TASKS TO TRAIN AND PREPARE MARINES AND SAILORS FOR DEPLOYMENT FOR COMBAT, AND TO SUPPORT THOSE ELEMENTS WHO WERE FORWARD DEPLOYED. THIS INCLUDED PROVIDING IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE AWARENESS TRAINING, ENGINEER RECONNAISSANCE, DEMOLITIONS, AND MANY OTHER TYPES OF TRAINING FOR 9,700 PERSONNEL FROM 37 DIFFERENT UNITS ACROSS II MEF WHILE MAINTAINING AN EQUIPMENT READINESS RATING THAT AVERAGED 97 PERCENT. THROUGH A STRONG KEY VOLUNTEER NETWORK THE BATTALION MAINTAINED A HIGH LEVEL OF FAMILY READINESS WHERE MARINES AND THE BATTALION WAS ALSO RECOGNIZED TWICE DURING THE PERIOD FOR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP WITHIN II MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE BY RECEIVING THE CHESTY PULLER AWARD. 2D CEB’S ACTIONS HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT IT IS THE EPITOME OF A WELL-TRAINED AND WELL-LED UNIT AND HAVE BEEN IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

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ENGINEER SUPPORT BATTALION OF THE YEAR AWARD TO

9TH ENGINEER SUPPORT BATTALION


FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING IN GENERAL SUPPORT OF III MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE AND DEPLOYED COMBATANT COMMANDS FROM 01 APRIL 2006 TO 31 MARCH 2007, RESULTING IN RECOGNITION AS ENGINEER SUPPORT BATTALION OF THE YEAR FOR 2007. DURING THIS PERIOD, 9TH ENGINEERS PROVIDED CRITICAL GENERAL ENGINEERING AND COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT TO OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. IN SPITE OF BEING THE SMALLEST ENGINEER SUPPORT BATTALION IN THE MARINE CORPS AND OTHER COMMITMENTS IN III MEF, 9TH ENGINEERS LIVED UP TO ITS MONIKER OF “SEND IN THE ENGINEERS” WHEN IT TOOK OVER GENERAL ENGINEER SUPPORT RESPONSIBILITIES IN MULTI-NATIONAL FORCES-WEST FOR THE OIF 05-07 DEPLOYMENT. FROM RAWAH IN THE FAR NORTH OR RUTBAH IN THE WEST, FROM THE HADITHA DAM TO AMARIYAH-FERRIS AND THROUGHOUT THE FALLUJAH-RAMADI CORRIDOR, THE SUPERB WORK ETHIC OF 9TH ENGINEER SUPPORT BATTALION WAS WELL-KNOWN. FROM ESTABLISHING IRAQI ARMY AND POLICE STATIONS, CREATING PIONEER ROADS, PATCHING BOMB CRATERS, AND CONDUCTING OFFENSIVE ROUTE CLEARANCE PATROLS, NO TASK OR LOCATION WAS BEYOND THE REACH OF THE MARINES AND SAILORS OF 9TH ENGINEERS. AS THE ONLY ENGINEER SUPPORT BATTALION TO DATE TO HAVE FIELDED A ROUTE CLEARANCE TEAM FOR A SUSTAINED PERIOD, 9TH ENGINEERS SET ITSELF APART FROM OTHERS WHEN IT WAS RANKED BY MULTI-NATIONAL CORPS IRAQ IN THE TOP FOUR OF FORTY-EIGHT ROUTE CLEARANCE TEAMS OPERATING IN IRAQI. THE TIRELESS EFFORTS OF 9TH ENGINEERS MADE A DIRECT AND SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE SUCCESS OF MULTINATIONAL FORCES-WEST TO OBTAIN, OCCUPY, AND CONTROL BATTLE SPACE IN THE INSURGENT STRONGHOLD OF AL ANBAR. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, 9TH ENGINEER SUPPORT BATTALION’S SUPERLATIVE EFFORTS GREATLY ASSISTED MNF-W’S CAMPAIGN PLAN BY FACILITATING THE EXPANSION AND TURN-OVER OF BATTLESPACE TO IRAQI SECURITY FORCES. THE WARTIME EFFORTS OF 9TH ENGINEER SUPPORT BATTALION REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON ITSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

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MARINE WING SUPPORT SQUADRON, ENGINEER DIVISION OF THE YEAR AWARD TO

MARINE WING SUPPORT SQUADRON 274


THROUGH EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, THE MARINES AND SAILORS OF MARINE WING SUPPORT SQUADRON 274 PURSUED NUMEROUS INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE THE COMMAND’S OPERATIONAL PROFICIENCY AND READINESS FOR COMBAT. CONTINUAL SUCCESS IN THE EXECUTION OF EVERY TASK HAS INSTILLED A PROFESSIONAL PRIDE, AN OUTSTANDING ESPRIT DE CORPS, AND A “CAN DO” ATTITUDE IN THE UNIT’S MARINES AND SAILORS. THE IRONMEN SUPPORTED MAG-14 AT MCAS CHERRY POINT AND MAG-16 DURING EXERCISE DESERT TALON AND OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM WITH UNMATCHED ENGINEERING CAPABILITY. THROUGH COMPLETION OF OVER 85 MAJOR ENGINEERING PROJECTS, TO INCLUDE, FORCE PROTECTION MISSIONS ISO BAGHDADI POLICE STATION, REPAIR OF THE WATER TREATMENT FACILITY, RECOVERY OF THREE DOWNED AIRCRAFT, PURIFYING OVER 90,000 GALLONS OF WATER AND COMPLETING NUMEROUS AIRFIELD IMPROVEMENTS, THIS ONE COMPANY HAD MAJOR AND FAR REACHING IMPACTS ON THE SUCCESSFUL MISSION OF BOTH 3D MARINE AIRCRAFT WING AND I MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE, THEY PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS MSR REPAIR AND ROUTE CLEARANCE MISSIONS IN AL ANBAR PROVINCE THAT MADE THE ROUTES SAFE FOR MILITARY FORCES AND PROVIDED SAFER TRAFFICABILITY FOR THE IRAQI CIVILIANS AS WELL. THE CONSTRUCTION EFFORTS OF THE COMBAT ENGINEERS COUPLED WITH THE HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, SERVED AS COMBAT MULTIPLIERS FOR THE AVIATION COMBAT ELEMENT WITH THE LAYING OF KEY HELICOPTER LANDING PADS IN AL QA’IM. THE ELASTICITY OF THE IRONMEN ENGINEERS MADE IT POSSIBLE TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE COMBAT MISSIONS AND SUPPORT AL ASAD AIR BASE INFRASTRUCTURE WITH THE BUILDING OF 38 SOUTHWEST ASIA STYLE BUILDINGS, ELECTRICAL TROUBLE-SHOOTING, AIR CONDITIONING, PLUMBING AND A MYRIAD OF OTHER TASKS SUPPORTING TENANTS OF THE FORWARD OPERATING BASE. AS A RESULT OF THEIR UNTIRING EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH ALL OF THEIR DEMANDING MISSIONS WITH GREATER EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS, THE MARINES OF MARINE WING SUPPORT SQUADRON 274 REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON THEMSELVES AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

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OUTSTANDING NAVAL CONSTRUCTION FORCE UNIT OF THE YEAR AWARD TO

THIRD NAVAL CONSTRUCTION REGIMENT


DURING THE PERIOD FROM SEPTEMBER 2006 TO MARCH 2007, THE THRID NAVAL CONSTRUCTION REGIMENT PROVIDED SUSTAINED, SUPERIOR LEADERSHIP AND CONSIDERABLE CONSTRUCTION EXPERTISE IN SUPPORT OF THE MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE (FORWARD)’S ONGOING COMBAT OPERATIONS AND RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS IN THE AL ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ DURING OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 05-07/06-08. COMPRISED OF FOUR SUBORDINATE UNITS INCLUDING OVER 1600 SEABEES, MARINES, AND SOLDIERS, THE THIRD NAVAL CONSTRUCTION REGIMENT PROVIDED THE UNPARALLELED ENGINEER CAPABILITY BY OPERATING OUT OF FOUR FORWARD OPERATING BASES AND NINE COMBAT OUTPOSTS THROUGHOUT THE AL ANBAR PROVINCE. THIS SUPERB TEAM EXCELLED IN THE COMPLETION OF 212 PROJECTS DURING 25 NAMED OPERATIONS VITAL TO THE MEF INCLUDING THE REPAIR OF TWO CRITICAL RUNWAYS, BERMING OPERATIONS IN THE HADITHA TRIAD, DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF COMBAT OUTPOSTS, HARDENED FACILITIES, AND REPAIRS TO CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS ROADS, BRIDGES, AND CULVERTS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REGIMENT LED INITIATIVES TO TRAIN IRAQI ENGINEERS IN THE PRINCIPLES FOR SELF SUSTAINMENT AND CONSTRUCTED A MONSTER GARAGE TO TEST AND APPLY COUNTER IED IMPLEMENTS. DESPITE THE LOSS OF THREE ARMY CONVOY TEAMS, THE REGIMENT PROVIDED OVER 730 COMBAT SECURITY MOVEMENTS LEADING 63,000 MILES OF TRAVEL THROUGHOUT THE MOST DANGEROUS PORTIONS OF MNF-W DESPITE 113 SAF ATTACKS AND 80 IED INCIDENTS. THESE UNITS ALSO COMPLETED 79 ROCKHOUND CONVOYS THROUGH HOSTILE TERRITORY MOVING 44,811 CUBIC YARDS OF ROCK IN DIRECT SUPPORT OF THE CONSTRUCTION EFFORT. THE LEVEL OF EFFORT DISPLAYED BY THE SEABEES, MARINES AND SOLDIERS OF THE THIRD NAVAL CONSTRUCTION REGIMENT DURING THIS DEPLOYMENT IS UNPARALLELED IN THE HISTORY OF COMBAT CONSTRUCTION AND DESPITE ARDUOUS CONDITIONS IN THE FACE OF AN UNRELENTING FOE, THEY COMPLETED THEIR TASKS WITH DISTINCTION AND IN THE BEST “CAN DO” TRADITION.

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THE MARINE CORPS ENGINEER ASSOCIATION WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION TO THE FOLLOWING CORPORATE MEMBERS AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION AND SUPPORT. BAE SYSTEMS REPRESENTATIVE: DAVE TEBO, PROGRAM MGR, COMBAT ENGINEER SYSTEMS SPONSOR OF CBT ENGR BN TROPHY CATERPILLAR INC. DEFENSE & FEDERAL PRODUCTS ACCOUNT MANAGER: BOB BURNETT SPONSOR OF ENGR SPT BN TROPHY TEREX CORPORATION REPRESENTATIVE: TOM MANLEY, VICE PRESIDENT GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS SPONSOR OF NAVAL CONSTRUCTION FORCE UNIT AWARD ALLIED CONTAINER SYSTEMS REPRESENTATIVE: MATTHEW HORSFALL, SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER MECO REPRESENTATIVE: JOHN KLIE, GOVERNMENT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MGR. PEARSON ENGINEERING REPRESENTATIVE: LEW SYKES, MILITARY SALES REP.

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fifteenth annual reunion of the marine corps …unitas, staff sgt. callahan returned to 1/25 and...

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