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CAMP HANSEN — Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, drew weapons and said their goodbyes before heading to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, May 9.
The Marines gathered at the 9th ESB armory to collect their respective weapons, perform function checks and prepare to go to war.
"I am very excited. We are going to go do good things for the Marine Corps and Afghanistan," said Lance Cpl. Cody Charpentier, a logistics vehicle system operator with 9th ESB. "Providing freedom and improving the standard of living in Afghanistan will be very rewarding."
"Training builds character, and to be deployed with the people I work with is a good thing," said Charpentier, deploying for the first time. "I know the Marine to the left and right of me and trust them with my life."
The battalion will be more than 440 Marines strong in Afghanistan with the addition of this group of more than 140 Marines, 1st Sgt. Walda Collins, company first sergeant for headquarters and service company, 9th ESB.
"Morale is high among these Marines," Collins said.
For 9th ESB, deploying has become routine, she added.
Collins said this is her third deployment to a combat zone, and it is a positive thing to go and perform these operations in Afghanistan.
There are some hardships, she said.
"I have two sons I am leaving behind so it is bittersweet in the end," said Collins.
Candice Harris shares Collin's feelings.
Harris is the wife of Sgt. Algerod Harris, a bulk fuel specialist who is deploying with 9th ESB.
"I feel sad, but not worried," said Harris. This will be the second deployment she has experienced with her husband.
"The first deployment was easier because I went to live with my parents," Harris said. "This time I will be out of my environment with just me and our daughter."
She added she plans to focus on work and occupy her time by going to church and exercising to cope with being without her Marine.
"God bless and see you when we get back," said Collins.
| Date Taken: | 05.21.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 06.08.2010 21:56 |
| Story ID: | 51087 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 179 |
| Downloads: | 126 |
This work, 9th ESB Marines from Okinawa depart in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, by Cpl Anthony Ward Jr, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
