CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -The Marines and sailors of 2nd Supply Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group decked the halls of the Goettge Memorial Field House here for their annual Christmas party, Dec. 3.
More than 600 servicemembers attended the event and filled the large gymnasium with their families and friends, who enjoyed a night of raffles, singing contests, food, a tacky sweater competition and the ever-present encouragement of their very own master of ceremonies.
“We all have something in common – our love for camaraderie, our love for fellowship and our love for a happy spirit,” said Petty Officer 1st Class William A. Hall, the battalion’s host for the event. “This is an opportunity to share different things I have been blessed with and lift up their spirits.”
The unit kicked off the merriment with a Christmas-themed sweater contest. Participants mounted the stage and vied for shouts of approval from the hundreds of attendees. A cheesy, inelegant vest with Christmas-themed adornments took the prize after a few twirls and a round of laughter spurred on by Hall.
Not to be outdone, the battalion’s five company commanders reluctantly took their places beside Hall, who quizzed each of them on their basic knowledge of popular holiday music.
The five leaders stumbled their way through songs such as “Jingle Bells” and “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” while enduring the laughs and jeers of Hall and the partygoers.
“We will always support them, but this is definitely entertaining,” chuckled Cpl. Karlin A. West, a supply administration and operations clerk with the battalion. “It shows we are not just about work, we’re also fun.”
The celebration came right after the unit’s first food-drive competition, which collected more than 6,000 pounds of nonperishable items for the USO.
“We have a giving spirit here,” said Lt. Col. Jesse A. Kemp, the battalion’s commanding officer. “I get a lot of opportunities to talk with the Marines and sailors about Supply Battalion and everything they do. This is a one of a kind battalion.”
Medical Logistics Company claimed the Supply Battalion Humanitarian Award, a large can of sweet corn mounted on a stand, for collecting more than 30 pounds of food for every member of the company.
“It is not just for Christmas or the holiday season,” said Hall as he addressed the audience from the stage. “We want to give all year round, and it starts right here.”
The battalion handed out prizes as a thank you for the servicemembers’ hard work, and Kemp said they intend to continue the food drive and Christmas party tradition next year.