News
Destination: Iraq Marines from tri-state area deploy for Iraq
By Ryan Fennell
RED BANK - On Wednesday morning, 891 U.S. Marines across 40 states mobilized to form the Combat Logistics Battalion 46 that will deploy to Iraq in late August.
Approximately 137 Marines from Headquarters and Service Company 6th Motor Transport Battalion in Red Bank were among those called to active service.
Of the 137 Marines activated, 12 are from active duty staff stationed in Red Bank.
The remaining 125 Marines are Reservists that come from all 21 counties of New Jersey as well as sections of New York City and Pennsylvania.
The Marines departed by bus for Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, where they will receive additional training before leaving for Iraq.
Friends, family and loved ones of the activated Marines gathered with members of the Marine Corps Leage, the VFW and the American Legion early Wednesday morning to show their support as the Marines prepared for departure.
According to Gunnery Sergeant Jack Santelli, this was the seventh deployment from the center since 2003.
Santelli said that the Marine Reservists that were deployed work in various professions and jobs when not in active service, with occupations that range from police officers to landscapers to teachers.
Platoon Sergeant Valdemar Moreira from Howell left his wife and two children for his third deployment to Iraq.
"It's always tough to leave family," said Moreira, a member of Truck Platoon I, "But we are going for a good reason, to start bringing everybody back."
Moreira has been an employee of Home Depot for six years.
"They are a very supportive company," Moreira said. "This is my second deployment while employed with them."
Jeff Picado, 21, from Asbury Park who serves as a mechanic in the Reserves, was joined at the Reserve Center by his parents, Mauro Picado and Linda Barragan, for his first deployment to Iraq.
Picado works as the dining room supervisor at Seabrook Village retirement community when he is not actively serving in the Marines.
Also in attendance to see Picado off was his former Asbury Park High School teacher, Yoshi Lassiter, who is a Reservist in the U.S. Army and is currently a teacher in South Brunswick.
"I'm so proud of him," Lassiter said. "There are not too many kids from Asbury Park that are doing what he's doing. I got up at 5 a.m. to be here this morning."
"We need to get behind soldiers, period," Lassiter added. "They make the greatest sacrifice."
State Senator Raymond Lesniak (D-20), whose cousin is a Marine Sergeant and among those being deployed, was in attendance to see the Marines off.
"Getting into war is easy. Getting out is tough," Lesniak said to the crowd. "That's why you've joined the Marines. To do the tough work and get the job done."
According to Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Eric Davis, the Combat Logistics Battalion forming at Camp Lejeune is the first Reserve Logistics command being deployed to Iraq since 2003.
"This is a big deal for the Reserve component," Davis said. "The Reserves have enabled us to put forth the military might that the nation requires without a draft."
Davis noted that during the Vietnam War, the government instituted a draft in order to build the military strength necessary at that time.
"Now we have volunteers here who are willing to step up and join the Reserves in numbers to meet the nation's needs," Davis said.
Davis is a 19-year Marine Reserves veteran who will also be deploying to Iraq for the first time.
Originally from North Carolina, Davis lives in Galloway, New Jersey and is a Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
According to Davis, the Combat Logistics Battalion will be providing "all of the support" for the other soldiers in Iraq.
The Battalion will be running convoys of food, water, and ammunition as well as supplying repair parts. The Battalion will also be setting up a maintenance company as well as an engineer company that can repair damaged roadways, among other duties.
They will also provide a health services company that will construct operating and emergency rooms as well as provide Military Police for security.
Davis said that approximately half of the men and women deployed out of Red Bank will be going to Iraq for the first time, while the remaining half will be going for the second or third time.
After arriving in Iraq in late August, the deployed Marines will serve for approximately seven months before returning home.
