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CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Two Marines with 2nd Marine Regiment’s Motor Transport Platoon received challenge coins from Col. Richard Anderson, the assistant chief of staff for security and emergency services, Marine Corps Installations East provost marshal, June 3, 2013. The Marines received the coins at the regimental motor transport maintenance bays for peacefully solving a dispute that occurred in April outside a club in Wilmington, N.C.
Being in the company of friends can be relaxing after a long week at work. Marines on Camp Lejeune have multiple cities to choose from that promote fun atmospheres and a place of retreatment from the day-to-day life on base.
Two Marines with 2nd Marine Regiment’s Motor Transport Platoon received challenge coins from Col. Richard Anderson, the assistant chief of staff for security and emergency services, Marine Corps Installations East provost marshal, June 3, 2013. The Marines received the coins at the regimental motor transport maintenance bays for peacefully solving a dispute that occurred in April outside a club in Wilmington, N.C.
Communication between civilian law enforcement and the base provost marshal service showed just how well it is between the two groups after word came from Wilmington, N.C. police officers to Anderson about the incident, and how the two corporals conducted themselves.
“Some Wilmington police officers, and 1st Lt. Hegg of the provost marshal office, told me about these two Marines,” said Anderson of Moorhead, Minn. “And I wanted to recognize them for doing the right thing and conducting themselves exactly as I would expect and desire from two professional NCOs [non-commissioned officers] in a tough situation. They thought superbly on their feet and performed very well under pressure.”
The evening started off like a regular evening for the Marines in Wilmington, N.C., one Saturday night in April. But when exiting a bar to go on to the next, insults and anger filled the air from another group of Marines. Quick thinking, remaining calm, and de-escalation was the sought after approach for handling the awry situation from Cpl. Luke Meissner, a Motor T operator from Oconomowoc, Wis. and his friends.
“We were at a club in Wilmington and noticed two Marines who were drunk whenever we came out of the bar,” said Meissner. “When they saw us they began shouting things at us, mainly just calling us different names. As soon as they started arguing with us and getting loud, we tried calming them down by saying things like ‘we’re all Marines. You don’t know me, I don’t know you. We’re just here to have a good time and so are you, so why are you trying to ruin it for everyone?’ But they didn’t stop; they actually began trying to get in our faces and started a shoving match basically.”
Before any more physical altercation took place, a sergeant with Meissner and his buddy spoke up to take the argument around the corner and away from law enforcement and civilian on-lookers to try and keep things from escalating further.
“When we saw they weren’t going to calm down, Sgt. Agular suggested that we go down a side street and try to lead them away from the crowd. They continued to follow us down the street and continued trying to push us and argue,” said Meissner. “The two kept getting louder and louder and more physical and that’s when the cops saw us and came toward us.”
Law enforcement officers saw what was going on and came over to separate the Marines involved in the heated argument, in order to protect those involved and around.
“The cops came over, separated us, took our id’s and got everyone’s side of the story. After everyone was done, the cops let us go for the rest of the night and sent the drunken Marines back to base in a taxi,” said Meissner.
Meissner, Breer and their friends didn’t let the argument ruin their night. They continued their evening at another bar without worrying about the previous argument.
“I think it was mature, professional, and indicative of the high-quality NCOs we expect in the Corps,” said Anderson. “By all means go out and have fun, but always use the "buddy system" and don't drink to the point where you can't control/defend yourself or others. Have a plan; if you drink any amount of alcohol, have a pre-arranged stone-cold-sober, designated driver or call for a cab before you start drinking for a designated pick-up time. Take care of yourself and others.”
Marines are Marines on and off duty. Wherever they go they are expected to maintain their professionalism. There is a high standard for wearing the uniform; Meissner and Breer exemplified that standard by choosing not to take the altercation from verbal to physical.
| Date Taken: | 06.20.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 06.20.2013 11:01 |
| Story ID: | 108945 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | MOORHEAD, MINNESOTA, US |
| Hometown: | OCONOMOWOC, WISCONSIN, US |
| Web Views: | 124 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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