CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -Marines, sailors, family and friends gathered to welcome home Combat Logistics Battalion 26, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group here Nov. 4.
The battalion was deployed for more than six months in the Mediterranean region while providing logistical support to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
The 26th MEU traveled to parts of Africa, Asia and Europe, training with foreign militaries and providing the United States with a mobile force capable of everything from quelling coups to aiding in disaster relief.
“The Marines did a lot of great training in numerous countries [including] a huge exercise in Jordan,” said 1st Lt. Dean A. Meredith, the assistant operations officer with CLB-26. “Seeing them operate out there, doing great work and strengthening multinational ties, was pretty cool.”
The 26th MEU deployed on three Navy ships, which made up the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group. CLB-26’s mission was to keep operations running smoothly by maintaining vehicles and equipment, purifying water and supplying food, fuel and other necessities, - the standard tasks for a logistics battalion.
However, there was the added challenge of being in close quarters at sea, which meant that the battalion had to be completely self-sufficient and work in smaller areas without the relief of going home at the end of the day.
“Being on ship is a whole new living environment,” said Meredith. “Until you do it you don’t really understand it. It’s pretty rough being at sea for months at a time and away from your family.”