Photo By Sgt. Megan Angel | A Marine with 3rd Marine Landing Group guides a medium tactical vehicle replacement...... read more read more
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WHITE BEACH NAVAL FACILITY, Japan - In his planning guidance, the 35th commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James F. Amos, defines the Corps as America’s Expeditionary Force in Readiness – a balanced air-ground logistics team, forward-deployed and forward-engaged – shaping, training, deterring and responding to all manner of crises and contingencies.
As Marines are repositioned from the Middle East to the Pacific, Amos has refocused the Corps on its amphibious roots.
Leading the way in this effort, more than 200 Marines and sailors with 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, returned from Thailand Dec. 9, where they provided support and assistance to flood-relief operations.
In only 16 hours, the detachment of Marines safely loaded more than 1.5 million pounds of rolling stock, hose-reel systems, fuel pumps, medium tactical vehicle replacement trucks, forklifts and Humvees onto USS Tortuga Nov. 18 and were underway toward Thailand, ready to assist in flood-relief operations, said Gunnery Sgt. Clayton G. Pettus, detachment gunnery sergeant, Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd MLG, III MEF.
A detachment of Marines and two CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III MEF, were also aboard Tortuga.
Shortly after Tortuga’s arrival to the Port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, Nov. 25, U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenney met with Brig. Gen. Craig C. Crenshaw, III MEF flood relief command element commander and commanding general of 3rd MLG, Col. Clark D. Henderson, CLR-3 commanding officer, and Cmdr. Adrian D. Ragland, commanding officer of Tortuga, to discuss how the Marines and sailors could assist Thailand with flood-relief operations.
Kenney also addressed the Marines and sailors aboard Tortuga regarding the important role they were playing in the flood-relief efforts and praised their ability to quickly respond when called upon.
Marines with Bulk Fuel Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, part of 3rd MLG, were tasked with relief operations at the Royal Thailand Air Force maintenance facilities at Don Mueang International Airport, said Chief Warrant Officer Julio C. Dominguez, Bulk Fuel Company commander. The assistance efforts conducted around the facilities were important in helping the RTAF resume normal operations.
Shortly after the tasking, the equipment was offloaded from Tortuga and en route to the airport.
“Our mission was a success and the Marines performed admirably,” said Dominguez. “They fought through the elements and faced unique challenges as a result of debris in the water; all of which had to be overcome with a little Marine ingenuity.”
Tortuga departed the Port of Laem Chabang Dec. 3 for its voyage back to Okinawa. Its ability to enable the Marines and sailors of the MLG to provide assistance to the government of Thailand goes hand-in-hand with the commandant’s mission of re-establishing Marines in their traditional role as “fighters from the sea.”
For many of these Marines, this was the first and may be the last time they will embark on a U.S. vessel and go to Thailand, added Dominguez. It was a very meaningful and rewarding experience for all of the Marines involved.
“The execution of every operation was done safely and quickly,” said Henderson. “They did exactly what they were supposed to do; they were pros all the way and I appreciate that.”
| Date Taken: | 12.09.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 12.15.2011 01:08 |
| Story ID: | 81404 |
| Location: | WHITE BEACH NAVAL FACILITY, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 173 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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