Lejeune service members lend a helping hand

Photo By Lance Cpl. John Faria | Dozens of Marines and Sailors from Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, spent May 9 volunteering for Onslow County Habitat for Humanity. Before the volunteers left the house, they took a moment to write messages wishing good luck and happiness to the family on the still exposed studs inside the unfinished walls.  

CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES

05.09.2009

Courtesy Story

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Early on the morning of May 9, dozens of Marines and Sailors from Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, were hard at work on a construction project.

It had nothing to do with their military mission to directly support II Marine Expeditionary Force. They were dedicating their personal time to Onslow County's Habitat for Humanity to build a house for a family in need.

Chief Warrant Officer Adam Price, the ammunition officer for 2nd Supply Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, says a request for volunteers led to the effort.

"Chaplain Kimball sent a group-wide email asking for volunteers, and everybody just signed on," said Price. "I think most Marines and Sailors want to help out in the community. I know from my company alone we had about 20 volunteers."

Lance Cpl. Anthony Graff, an ammunition technician with Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, who volunteered, said news of the project spread through word of mouth between the junior service members.

"I was out with a couple of guys last night, they told me about this and I said, 'Hey, wake me up and I'll be there,'" said Graff. "It feels good to know you're helping people that may not be able to help themselves, so I took a break from doing personal things to help other people."

The goal for the day was to finish the house's roof.

The more experienced volunteers began the day with a safety class, and then taught the newcomers how to create a chalk line template, place drip guard on edges and shingle the roof.

Volunteers do not need any previous construction experience to pitch in. Many of the volunteers that day had never worked construction before much less been on a roof.

"It doesn't matter if they've never driven a nail before," said Roger Morton, an assistant site supervisor with Habitat for Humanity. "We'll teach them, and by the end of the day they'll be driving nails, or screws, or whatever it is we are doing."

Morton is a retired avionics Marine who has volunteered with the organization for almost four years.

"I have been very fortunate in my life, and I look at this as my way of being able to give something meaningful back," said Morton. "At some point in time, everyone needs a little boost to help them along, and that's what this program does. It gives somebody that little boost to get them over a hard spot in their life."

Morton believes that same willingness to put others first still holds true with today's service members.

"I think one of the reasons they become service members to start with is wanting to be able to help," said Morton. "About twice a month we end up with a very large group of Marines and Sailors. Even on the in-between weeks, we get a lot of them who just come down."

Before the volunteers left the house, they took a moment to write messages wishing good luck and happiness to the family on the still exposed studs inside the unfinished walls.

Although many of them will never meet the family who will call this house their home, and the family may never read the warm sentiments scribed inside the walls, the hard work of these volunteers will stay with the family for as long as they live.

• Date Taken: 05.09.2009
• Date Posted: 05.15.2009 13:49
• Story ID: 33664
• Location: CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US