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CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – The commanding officer of 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), transferred authority to the commanding officer of 7th ESB, 2nd MLG (Fwd.), during a ceremony at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, May 26, 2011.
During their seven-month deployment, 8th ESB traveled more than 145,000 miles and executed more than 750 combat logistics patrols.
“I promised them they’d be busy,” said Lt. Col. Chris G. Downs, the 8th ESB commanding officer, and a Catskill, N.Y., native. “I wanted to be tasked at 120 percent capacity, and I wanted them tired because it mattered. It mattered to [the infantrymen] who were out there doing every single day. [The Marines of 8th ESB] rose to every challenge.”
The engineers emplaced 15 bridges and improved approximately 46,000 meters of roads throughout Helmand province. They also purified more than 5.5 million gallons of water, which provided troops operating in southwestern Afghanistan with more than 175,000 showers.
“They did everything we asked of them,” added Downs. “I asked them to do more, and they never once got tired and never once quit.”
During the ceremony, Downs spoke to Brig. Gen. Michael Dana, the commanding general of 2nd MLG (Fwd.), about the Marines and sailors within 8th ESB.
“General, I’ve been an engineer my entire career,” said Downs. “I know [Marine Air Ground Task Force] engineering. I know joint engineering. This is what right looks like. These men and women are my heroes.”
As 8th ESB prepares to redeploy, the 7th ESB are ready to assume duties of providing service members throughout Helmand province with engineer support.
“I assure you [these Marines and sailors] are ready,” concluded Lt. Col. Daniel H. Dubbs, the 7th ESB commanding officer, and a Villa Ridge, Mo., native. “We have a tough act to follow, but we’ll be successful because of the foundation [8th ESB] laid.”
| Date Taken: | 05.26.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 05.27.2011 05:17 |
| Story ID: | 71181 |
| Location: | CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF |
| Web Views: | 596 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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