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thedrifter
03-04-09, 07:08 AM
Moss Creek Marines do it again

But they aimed higher this time,“adopting” 1,200 overseas Leathernecks at once.

The Moss Creek Marines are nothing if not ambitious.

The veterans’ group has “adopted” 12 Marine units overseas, but most were company-sized, 100 or 200 men and women eating grit in the deserts of Iraq or Afghanistan and eager for a taste of home. This time, though, they aimed high and adopted the entire 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), serving with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Afghanistan. That’s 1,200 men and women.

That’s alot of Xboxes. Eight, to be precise. A dozen Moss Creek Marines spent a day last week packing 87 boxes packed with stuff for the battalion, including 1,000 phone cards, toiletries, candy and snacks, DVDs and letters from children to whom members of the Moss Creek group spoke over the holidays.

The Marines who receive the boxes, according to an e-mail from the Moss Creek group’s overseas contact, are stationed at forward bases and don’t have access to typical off-duty items.

“On a larger scale, if you were able to donate a gaming system and games, such as (an) Xbox 360, the Marines at the forward operating locations would use the heck out of them in their sparsely outfitted morale and welfare tents,” said Master Sgt. Charles F. Albrecht, the battalion’s public affairs officer.

Done. The Xboxes are in the mail. “Once again, on behalf of all the Moss Creek Marines and all of the others who have donated to our cause, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all that you do for our Country and our Corps,” said Alan Calderon, the Moss Creek Marines’ commanding officer, closing his e-mail, fittingly, with the words “Semper Fidelis.”

That’s Latin for “always faithful.” Get it?

Ellie