thedrifter
09-30-06, 07:32 AM
Some 60 Lima Company Marine Reservists Have Left U.S. For The Mideast
By: By BILL JONES/Staff Writer
Source: The Greeneville Sun
09-29-2006
Some 60 U.S. Marine reservists from Gray-based Lima Company, 3rd Battalion of the 24th Marine Regiment, have left the United States for eventual service in Iraq, a Marine Corps spokesman confirmed on Thursday.
Responding to an inquiry from a Greeneville Sun reporter, Maj. Steve Bickford, the unit’s instructor-inspector, said that approximately 60 Lima Company Marines had departed a California base for eventual service in Iraq.
“They are either en route to or at their destination,” Maj. Bickford said.
However, Bickford said he could not disclose the destination to which the Lima Company Marines were traveling initially.
Local Men Included
Marine reservists from the Greeneville area who are among the group being deployed to Iraq are Lance Cpl. Nick Fillers, of Greeneville; Lance Cpl. Brandon Ward, of the Glendale community; and Cpl. Steven Levasseur, of Telford.
Maj. Bickford said the Marine Corps will issue a news release once the unit to which the Lima Company Marines is attached reaches its final destination. That, he said, likely will not be before next week.
The 60 Lima Company Marine reservists had left the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Gray on June 7 for training in California with elements of their sister unit, the Detroit-based 1st Battalion of the 24th Marine Regiment.
Maj. Bickford said in June that the local Marine reservists were expected to be deployed to Iraq’s Al Anbar province for a seven-month tour of duty after training in California.
During an April press conference at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Gray, Maj. Bickford said the Lima Company Marines would “augment” the Detroit-based 1st Battalion of the 24th Marine Regiment in Iraq later this year.
About 25 percent of the Marines who are deploying to Iraq this time served there in 2004 when the entire company deployed, and they volunteered to return, Major Bickford said.
“They (the Iraq veteran Marines) have volunteered to provide their leadership to help these new junior Marines as they go to Iraq,” he said then.
The Lima Company Marines spent seven months in Iraq in 2004.
Ellie
By: By BILL JONES/Staff Writer
Source: The Greeneville Sun
09-29-2006
Some 60 U.S. Marine reservists from Gray-based Lima Company, 3rd Battalion of the 24th Marine Regiment, have left the United States for eventual service in Iraq, a Marine Corps spokesman confirmed on Thursday.
Responding to an inquiry from a Greeneville Sun reporter, Maj. Steve Bickford, the unit’s instructor-inspector, said that approximately 60 Lima Company Marines had departed a California base for eventual service in Iraq.
“They are either en route to or at their destination,” Maj. Bickford said.
However, Bickford said he could not disclose the destination to which the Lima Company Marines were traveling initially.
Local Men Included
Marine reservists from the Greeneville area who are among the group being deployed to Iraq are Lance Cpl. Nick Fillers, of Greeneville; Lance Cpl. Brandon Ward, of the Glendale community; and Cpl. Steven Levasseur, of Telford.
Maj. Bickford said the Marine Corps will issue a news release once the unit to which the Lima Company Marines is attached reaches its final destination. That, he said, likely will not be before next week.
The 60 Lima Company Marine reservists had left the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Gray on June 7 for training in California with elements of their sister unit, the Detroit-based 1st Battalion of the 24th Marine Regiment.
Maj. Bickford said in June that the local Marine reservists were expected to be deployed to Iraq’s Al Anbar province for a seven-month tour of duty after training in California.
During an April press conference at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Gray, Maj. Bickford said the Lima Company Marines would “augment” the Detroit-based 1st Battalion of the 24th Marine Regiment in Iraq later this year.
About 25 percent of the Marines who are deploying to Iraq this time served there in 2004 when the entire company deployed, and they volunteered to return, Major Bickford said.
“They (the Iraq veteran Marines) have volunteered to provide their leadership to help these new junior Marines as they go to Iraq,” he said then.
The Lima Company Marines spent seven months in Iraq in 2004.
Ellie