thedrifter
01-30-09, 06:09 AM
2nd Marine Division celebrates birthday
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Jan 30, 2009 6:19:15 EST
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — A series of events for the birthday celebration of a North Carolina-based Marine Corps division is wrapping up.
The 2nd Marine Division said more than 2,300 current and former Marines will take part in the events on Friday at Camp Lejeune. The events include a memorial service, awards ceremony and birthday banquet.
Marines celebrated earlier in the week with tank and artillery live fire demonstrations.
The infantry division was founded Feb 1, 1941 and numbers more than 15,000 enlisted members and officers.
Members of the division have served in conflicts around the world since World War II.
Ellie
thedrifter
01-30-09, 06:33 AM
2nd Marine Division Association celebrates 68
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January 29, 2009 - 6:31 PM
JENNIFER HLAD
About 200 members of the 2nd Marine Division Association are at Camp Lejeune this week, celebrating the division's 68th birthday and sharing memories.
"Once you become a Marine, it is something special," said Dave Brown, executive director of the 2nd Marine Division Association. Coming back to Camp Lejeune, he said, "you get a real taste of it here. You just can't taste it in Des Moines."
Thursday, the group watched live-fire tank and artillery demonstrations, and got a chance to talk to active-duty Marines about how the gear works.
B. Makowski, a veteran from Carlstadt, N.J., joked that if he had ear plugs in World War II and Korea like the kind provided for the veterans Thursday, he wouldn't need his hearing aids today.
He is one of 10 veterans who traveled to the event from New Jersey together. He said he liked seeing the weapons and the M1A1 tanks - much different than the M4 Sherman tanks he remembers.
"It's beautiful, the tanks," he said. "It's good fun."
Makowski said he has come to the birthday celebration every year for the last 10 years, mainly for the camaraderie.
"God willing, I'll be here next year," he said.
Sgt. Scott Powers, an M1A1 tank commander with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, was one of many Marines on hand Thursday to answer the veterans' questions and give them tours of a tank.
"Stuff has changed dramatically," he said. "It's cool to see their faces when they see our gear."
Fred Brooks, a veteran from Virginia Beach, Va., said everything is a lot faster now than when he was a Marine, from 1960 to 1986.
"There's been a lot of changes - all good," he said.
Brooks usually tries to come to the birthday events, for the camaraderie and the chance to talk to active-duty Marines.
"They're all very positive," he said.
The demonstrations Thursday were part of a weeklong birthday commemoration, culminating today with a memorial service, battle colors rededication ceremony, awards and birthday banquet.
Contact interactive content editor and military reporter Jennifer Hlad at jhlad@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8467. Visit www.jdnews.com to comment on this report.
Ellie