NEW YORK - The 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group detachment of Marines in New York have garnered the attention of many military officials with their work in Breezy Point, N.Y. while working in a Defense Support to Civil Authorities mission to clean up the neighborhood and help the residents who lost so much in the destruction of Hurricane Sandy.
United States Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter visited Breezy Point to see the joint-service work for himself, while Marine Corps and Army officers informed him of the mission’s progress.
Maj. Craig Clarkson, commanding officer of the 8th ESB, 2nd MLG detachment talked to Carter about the progress of the neighborhood and explained how they divided the area of operation into different sectors and sent out small teams of service members to each zone to maximize effectiveness.
Clarkson also relayed the residents’ gratitude to Carter, explaining how the locals, many of whom lost their houses in the hurricane, are all very supportive of the mission.
Carter was excited to see the operation first-hand.
“We follow, from afar, what you all do everyday,” he said. “You can’t always be sure what you’re hearing is true until we can come and see for ourselves. Everything I’ve seen is consistent with what we’re hearing.”
Carter also talked to some residents directly, and they expressed their thanks for having a military presence in Breezy Point to help with the debris cleanup.
“You are making an enormous difference,” said Carter while talking to a group of service members. “It’s amazing what our military does anywhere, anytime and for any purpose. The tremendous capability of our department to be able to offer you all to our own country in its time of need is a wonderful feeling.”
Army officials escorted Carter around the Breezy Point neighborhood so he could visually see the work for himself, and he took the opportunity to thank the service members every chance he had.
“You have our gratitude and are a tremendous source of pride,” said Carter. “We are extremely proud and grateful of the work you’ve been doing.”
Date Taken: | 11.12.2012 |
Date Posted: | 11.12.2012 14:19 |
Story ID: | 97663 |
Location: | NEW YORK, NEW YORK, US |
Web Views: | 551 |
Downloads: | 3 |
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