15th MEU troops return from humanitarian, combat efforts
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(June 7, 2007) -- Nearly nine months of humanitarian efforts and combat operations came to a welcomed halt when Marines and Sailors with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit came home May 30.
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Story by: Lance Cpl. Jeffrey
The Marines were welcomed by friends and family who were anxious to reunite with their loved ones for the first time in months.
“The last eight-and-a-half months were about us,” said Col. Brian D. Beaudreault, Commanding Officer of the 15th MEU. “Now it’s about the families.”
Service members from the 15th MEU arrived at their homecoming celebration on a landing craft. The craft landed on the beach, lowered its hatch and service members quickly disembarked to charge toward their loved ones.
Lincoln Military Housing acknowledged the occasion by supplying music, food, balloons and banners for the service members.
“These Marines deserve a friendly welcome back,” said Scott Nelson, a maintenance register with Lincoln Military Housing. “We look forward to doing it again for future MEUs.”
The 15th MEU left port Sept. 13, 2006, and spent time in Singapore, India, Iraq and Australia.
“It was an outstanding deployment,” said Staff Sgt. Dorienzo L. Whatley, a postal noncommissioned officer-in-charge with Company S, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group. “I learned a lot.”
Despite traveling to many different areas of the globe, the unit concentrated most of their efforts in Iraq.
“The most gratifying work we did was in Iraq,” Beaudreault said. “We made a lasting impact in the areas we worked in.”