Photo By Cpl. Khoa Pelczar | Lance Cpl. Travis Moore, combat engineer, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, Combat...... read more read more
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CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Marines and sailors with 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group said their extended goodbyes to friends and family members as they boarded the bus here to begin their journey to Afghanistan, March 30.
More than 150 service members left Camp Pendleton as part of Combat Logistics Battalion 7, the ‘Big Red Seven’, in support of II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).
For some first-timers, embarking on a deployment can be a nerve-wracking and terrifying new experience, but for a few, such as Lance Cpl. Kalen M. Turner, combat engineer, 7th ESB, 1st MLG, he couldn’t wait until they were on their way.
“I’m itching to go,” said Turner, 21, from Scottsdale, Ariz. “Last night, I felt like a little kid waiting to open my Christmas present in the morning.”
Turner believes that the unit is prepared and ready for this deployment.
“This is the time for us to get over there and do what we’ve been trained to do,” he said. “Times like these are when we’re able to show everyone that all the training we’ve done will pay off.”
Before boarding the bus the warriors spent the last few hours with their loved ones, whether in person or via mobile phone. Although the Marines and sailors will be missed, it was obvious their friends and family members were proud of their service.
Lance Cpl. Travis Moore, combat engineer, 7th ESB, 1st MLG, is a second generation Marine and his father, who was present to see him off expressed how proud he was for his son becoming the man he is today.
“I’ll miss my family dearly,” said Moore, 19, from Apple Valley, Calif. “But I’m ready to go in and do what I need to do to support the battalion.”
The separation is tough on everyone, but the Marines kept their composure and focused on their mission that lies ahead.
“I’ll try not to think about missing my family too much because then I won’t be able to focus on the mission at hand,” said Turner. “After all, I’ll get to see them again in seven months.”
| Date Taken: | 03.30.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 04.04.2011 15:49 |
| Story ID: | 68262 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 146 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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