thedrifter
11-11-03, 05:11 AM
'Lava Dogs' bid farewell to Oki, end overseas tour
Submitted by: MCB Camp Butler
Story Identification Number: 2003115211048
Story by Cpl. Ryan D. Libbert
CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa, Japan (Nov. 04, 2003) -- More than 900 Marines and Sailors from 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment will detach from their current position with 4th Marine Regiment and return to Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii as they finish up their Unit Deployment Program tour Nov. 10-17.
The battalion, or "Lava Dogs" as they are also known, landed on Okinawa in early April to start their expedition with 4th Marines.
Since their time on Okinawa, the battalion has experienced a very fast paced operational tempo, according to Lt. Col William R. Fearn IV, commanding officer.
"The Marines in the battalion have been challenged during their time here," Fearn said. "This whole UDP has been very fast and furious. We have engaged in several contingency operations and training exercises and routinely planned and executed multiple missions at the same time. We have spent a very short amount of time on Okinawa."
At the start of their tour with 4th Marines, the battalion participated in Exercise Cobra Gold '03 in Thailand, giving the battalion a chance to train with their Thai counterparts for contingency operations.
When the battalion returned to Okinawa they spent several days at the Jungle Warfare Training Center at Camp Gonsalves where they took part in the different training packages JWTC offers.
During this time the battalion also deployed companies to both Bahrain and southern Philippines to participate in security and anti-terrorism operations as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. The Lava Dogs were reunited as a battalion once again in September when they deployed to Camp Fuji in mainland Japan.
As a reinforced battalion, 1st Bn., 3rd Marine Regiment, was able to train in the cold rocky terrain of Mount Fuji to include a Combined Arms Exercise.
After the training in Fuji was completed, the battalion boarded a High Speed Vessel for Korea where they took part in Korean Integrated Training Program 03-2. The opportunity allowed the battalion to train with Marines from the Republic of Korea as well as visit the Demilitarized Zone.
"The highlight of this deployment has been working with the Marines from other countries," Fearn said. "Training with both the Thai and R.O.K. Marines was a great opportunity for 1st Bn., 3rd Marines. I am very proud of the hard work and accomplishments of the Marines and sailors in the battalion."
Now that they have turned in their 782 gear and packed their sea bags they will soon board a plane for Hawaii.
The Lava Dogs are ready to continue business as usual when they return to Oahu.
"Our plans for the battalion when we return to Hawaii is to reunite families and bid good luck and farewell to Marines who are leaving the battalion," said Sgt. Maj. Michael S. Timmerman, battalion sergeant major. "We will receive incoming Marines and proceed to reform, retrain, re-supply, and get ready to re-deploy."
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200311614340/$file/1-3GONE-01low.jpg
A Marine with the Logistics Operations Center, Headquarters and Service Company, BLT 1/3, sights in on his target during a live-fire exercise in Fuji, Japan. Photo by: Sgt. Danny L. Patterson
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/E2929EA9570CF95985256DD6000BF9D6?opendocument
Sempers,
Roger
:marine:
Submitted by: MCB Camp Butler
Story Identification Number: 2003115211048
Story by Cpl. Ryan D. Libbert
CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa, Japan (Nov. 04, 2003) -- More than 900 Marines and Sailors from 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment will detach from their current position with 4th Marine Regiment and return to Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii as they finish up their Unit Deployment Program tour Nov. 10-17.
The battalion, or "Lava Dogs" as they are also known, landed on Okinawa in early April to start their expedition with 4th Marines.
Since their time on Okinawa, the battalion has experienced a very fast paced operational tempo, according to Lt. Col William R. Fearn IV, commanding officer.
"The Marines in the battalion have been challenged during their time here," Fearn said. "This whole UDP has been very fast and furious. We have engaged in several contingency operations and training exercises and routinely planned and executed multiple missions at the same time. We have spent a very short amount of time on Okinawa."
At the start of their tour with 4th Marines, the battalion participated in Exercise Cobra Gold '03 in Thailand, giving the battalion a chance to train with their Thai counterparts for contingency operations.
When the battalion returned to Okinawa they spent several days at the Jungle Warfare Training Center at Camp Gonsalves where they took part in the different training packages JWTC offers.
During this time the battalion also deployed companies to both Bahrain and southern Philippines to participate in security and anti-terrorism operations as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. The Lava Dogs were reunited as a battalion once again in September when they deployed to Camp Fuji in mainland Japan.
As a reinforced battalion, 1st Bn., 3rd Marine Regiment, was able to train in the cold rocky terrain of Mount Fuji to include a Combined Arms Exercise.
After the training in Fuji was completed, the battalion boarded a High Speed Vessel for Korea where they took part in Korean Integrated Training Program 03-2. The opportunity allowed the battalion to train with Marines from the Republic of Korea as well as visit the Demilitarized Zone.
"The highlight of this deployment has been working with the Marines from other countries," Fearn said. "Training with both the Thai and R.O.K. Marines was a great opportunity for 1st Bn., 3rd Marines. I am very proud of the hard work and accomplishments of the Marines and sailors in the battalion."
Now that they have turned in their 782 gear and packed their sea bags they will soon board a plane for Hawaii.
The Lava Dogs are ready to continue business as usual when they return to Oahu.
"Our plans for the battalion when we return to Hawaii is to reunite families and bid good luck and farewell to Marines who are leaving the battalion," said Sgt. Maj. Michael S. Timmerman, battalion sergeant major. "We will receive incoming Marines and proceed to reform, retrain, re-supply, and get ready to re-deploy."
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200311614340/$file/1-3GONE-01low.jpg
A Marine with the Logistics Operations Center, Headquarters and Service Company, BLT 1/3, sights in on his target during a live-fire exercise in Fuji, Japan. Photo by: Sgt. Danny L. Patterson
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/E2929EA9570CF95985256DD6000BF9D6?opendocument
Sempers,
Roger
:marine: