The Old-Fashioned Letter

In today’s world of e-mail and

text messaging, letters have be-

come out of style and often re-

garded as snail mail, or impossi-

bly slow. A few days ago, my

grandmother was talking to me

about deployments and my hus-

band. Since she is the only one in my family who understands the

challenges of the military (her

husband served in the Navy, and

five of her brothers were Ma-

rines in WWII), I often ask her

advice and listen to her stories

with excitement. She proceeded

to ask me if I had talked to my

husband and I told her that we

wrote e-mails back and forth, but

I also wrote him letters. She then

told me of the box she had kept all these years filled with letters

from her brothers and my grand-

father. While some of things she

read me made me blush and

smile, I could not believe that

she had kept hundreds of letters

for this long.

While sending an e-mail is effort-

less and the spelling is almost

always perfect (thank goodness

for spell check!), a letter takes

time, patience, and forethought. Knowing military mail, sending a

letter for your anniversary or

Battalion News

I N S I D E

T H I S I S S U E :

BN News 1

Spouse’s

Section

1

Alpha Co 3

H&S Co 3

Charlie Co 4

MAC 6

RCC 7

Support Co 8

Upcoming

Events

9

For the Spouses, By the Spouses

2nd CEB Newsletter A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 7

S P E C I A L

P O I N T S O F

I N T E R E S T :

Letter from

the Command

Spouse’s

Section

Upcoming

Events

Pictures,

pictures,

pictures!

Families and Friends of 2d Combat Engineer Battalion,

The men of the battalion remain fully engaged in support of 2d Marine Division, and they continue to perform

way above the standard. For a majority of the battalion, we are more than halfway complete with the deploy-

ment, but remain focused on the mission at hand.

The Marines and Sailors of the battalion appreciate all the support from home, and definitely appreciate your

efforts while we are away.

The Marines and Sailors of Second Platoon, Alpha Company, 4th Combat Engineer battalion recently arrived in

southern Helmand province, and they are already completing combat engineer missions. Also, the engineer pla-

toon supporting BLT 2/2 recently conducted bilateral training with their counterparts in Spain, and they remain

ready to support contingencies aboard ship.

Sadly, the battalion recently lost one of our own to an IED blast, Lance Corporal Robert Greniger. He was well-

known throughout the battalion as a courageous and skilled combat engineer who always had a smile on his face.

We honor his sacrifice, and he and his family will always be a part of 2d Combat Engineer Battalion.

On a more upbeat note, I heard that the recent battalion pool party was a huge success! Over 80 family mem-

bers showed up, and everyone said that they had a great time. There were a few giveaways, a DJ, some sand-

wiches and fruit, as well as ice cream floats and swimming floats. Thanks to everyone who made this event a

success.

As per the norm, there will be more events like this for spouses and families coming up soon. Please call Tawnia

Tolliver, the battalion Family Readiness Officer, if you are interested in participating or if you have questions

about the deployment, or you just need some help.

Semper Fidelis,

Lieutenant Colonel Eric Quehl

P A G E 2 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 7

For the Spouses, By the Spouses (Cont’d) Christmas means writing it almost a month in advance and hoping it gets there in time. Also, a letter holds so many little secrets and mysteries

that no e-mail can rival. Smells of a whiff of perfume or cologne, small mementos from dinners or days you wish you could have shared, heart

dotted i’s, and many other personal touches give your Marine a gift from home, a piece of you.

And, of course, nothing can beat getting a letter in the mail. As I walk to my mailbox each day, I expect bill, bill, credit card offer, bank statement,

and maybe a Netflix DVD, but the excitement of seeing a letter, dusty and sandy from Afghanistan makes my entire week seem worth it. I can

only imagine that my husband feels the exact same way after a long busy day. Letters are objects he can always return to after a stressful meeting

or rough day outside. Letters remind him that I took the time out of my crazy, busy day just for him.

So, open up your notebook, get out the pens, stamps, and envelopes and write a letter. It might require getting used to spelling errors, bad hand-

writing, and the chance that your words will not sound as eloquent as an e-mail, but I guarantee the surprise of an actual letter will outweigh all of

those aspects. And you never know, years down the road, your kids and grandkids might be rummaging through those letters and treasure the

memories and words you and your husband

shared.

By Brittany Barry

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

LCpl Robert Greniger

April 1, 1990 - July 12, 2011

You will be missed!

LEFT: Chaps Duprey Enjoying His

New Life Aboard THE USS Abraham

Lincoln.

CHAPS...

Thank you for everything you did

for us here at 2d CEB!

YOU ARE TRULY MISSED!!

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 7

GySgt Reese AHQ, laying the smack down on Supt Plt in the 4th of July softball game; Cpl Dewson A1 4th CEB, in a 4x4 MRAP in route to

support Bravo Co, in Trek Nawa 12 July; LCpl Baker A1 4th CEB, filling HESCO during Operation Stranglehold, in Trek Nawa 14 July; Alpha

HQs lowers the flag flown in honor of LCpl Greniger; LCpl’s Moore, Sockriter, Gonce, Overstreet, and Freeman A1 4 th CEB, during MCMAP

testing for the Gray belt at FOB Geronimo, 9 July; LCpl Fernandez and LCpl Schrock C1 2d CEB, as they load for a convoy mission; Marines

of A3 4th CEB, pre-staged at PB Rt Red Central for construction of PB Ensenada; SSgt Wolf, Sgt Scott, GySgt Spada A3 4th CEB, talk with a

Terp and a local; LCpl Rhodes A1, 4th CEB, stepping off on a patrol in Trek Nawa 19 July; Sgt Lamarche and Cpl Wetherall A3 2d CEB, as-

sisting with the construction of an anti-vehicular wire obstacle; Marines from A3 2d CEB, constructing a anti-vehicular wire obstacle; Cpl

Sandoval S. CE PLT CAC, showing the ANA Engineers how to carry rolls of c-wire in Helmand Province; LCpl Castro CE Plt CAC, during the

demil CP Marler in Helmand Province; Cpl Norton C1 2d CEB, getting a good look at the area while on patrol; LCpl Ketcham and LCpl Range-

lacosta C1 2d CEB, as they prepare to work on a generator; CWO Pottorff in the zone; LCpl Turner prepares for a homerun!

ALPHA Company

P A G E 4 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 7

ALPHA 2 ISO 1/5. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: LCpl Stebbins - Promoted by LCpl Moore at PB Atol; LCpl Micciche -

Promted by LCpl Gibbs and LCpl Small at PB Faheem; PFC Defuso - Providing security during a routine security

check point; Cpl Anthony Cade - arriving in Sangin to provide support to 2nd platoon Charlie Company 2d CEB.

ALPHA Company (Cont’d)

Our Heroes at Bethesda and Walter Reed

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Cpl Boucher suited up and looking good; Cpls Mullis, Kerns and

Haegele stylin’ and profilin’; LCpl Ayhens walking for the first time on his new legs.

P A G E 5 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 7

BRAVO COMPANY

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: LCpl Perez Receiving a NMC Achieve-

ment Medal w Combat Distinguishing Device for Heroic Ac-

tions During a Fire Fight by Pulling a Wounded Marine to

Cover & Applying Medical Aid until the Medevac Helo Ar-

rived; 1 August 2011 Newly Promoted Lance Corporals Of

Marines - Bradley, Seematter, Pitt, Cossey, Monace & Here-

dia; 1 August 2011 Newly Promoted Corporals of Marines -

Cpls Roehrick, Bradley, Daily, Powell, Mizer, OrnellasCastro

& Anderson.

CHARLIE COMPANY

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Sgt Alexander from Charlie 3 leads

a group of Marines in the construction of a guard post at

OP Lakeside. Pictured are Sgt Alexander, LCpls Owens-

Riley, Wilson, Hoffman and PFC Lecavalier; As dusk sets

in, Marines of Charlie 3 put the finishing touches on a In-

direct Fire Bunker at OP Padleck; Cpl Erickson instructing

LCpl Fisher on guard post construction at OP Lakeside.

P A G E 6 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 7

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Martial Arts; MSgt Henderson:

Notice the Sandstorm; Sgt Burris getting ready for

PSD Mission.

H&S Company

2d CEB Pool Party

P A G E 7 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 7

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Cpl Daugherty promotion to Cpl conducted by Capt Goodwin; Sgt Naylor prepares a down vehicle for recovery, and teaches younger Marines how to prepare a vehicle for tow; 2nd platoon at Sar Puzeh after clearing a route.

MAC

P A G E 8 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 7

RCC

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: 2nd Platoon getting ready to go out; 2nd Platoon training

with the Afghans; 3rd Platoon; 3rd Platoon having fun in the mud; Capt Anderson

with the Afghan General; Cpl Fry and LCpl Kroha's Promotion; Dinner with the Af-

ghans; Lt Aldonas and the Secretary of Defense with the Afghans.

P A G E 9 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 7

SUPPORT COMPANY

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Marines of motor transport maintenance detachment repair a damaged vehicle struck by an IED;

GySgt Mccaffrey & LCpl’s Didomizio and Barley Work to replace a vehicle’s axel that has received damage; Assault Breach

Vehicle platoon firing a MCLIC rocket from the vehicle’s mounted weapon system; A Sandstorm brewing as Marines of Sup-

port Company race to finish their mission at hand; Marines take shelter inside the hesco barriers they have established to

wait out the sand storm; Sgt Espinoza & Navy Corpsmen Doc Lo Continue their mission at hand after sand storm subsides.

Events

*FREE CHILDCARE PROVIDED FOR MOST EVENTS:

The Brewster CDC will support the childcare request for children between the ages of six weeks old and up to 12 years old. Child-care will begin at 1800. Please call 910-450-8467 to make your reservations as soon as possible, but at least 72 hours in advance. Should no reservations be made 72 hours prior to the event, the childcare support will be cancelled. All children must be registered with Children, Youth, and Teen Programs (have a white card). Registration may be completed at the Resource & Referral Office, Bldg. LCH 4012 Butler Drive Midway Park (next to the Midway Park Chapel), (910) 449-9552 or 449-9563 Mon-Fri, 0800-1600. Please bring child's shot records to register and a copy of the most recent medical physical, if available. If your child isn’t registered, you can print the packet online at: http://www.mccslejeune.com/cytp/CYTPRegistrationPacket.pdf and take it to Bldg. LCH 4012 in Midway Park. This will expedite the process.

You can print this page and put it on

your fridge as a reminder of our

upcoming events!

TO RSVP!

My Family Readiness Officer for 2d Combat Engineer Battalion is:

Tawnia Tolliver, 910.450.9646 or tawnia.tolliver@usmc.mil

facebook.com/2dCEB

All homecoming information

will only be released via the

Homecoming Hotline: 1-800-

230-8762 then press 52

and follow the prompts for your

Marine or Sailor’s unit.

Please continue to monitor this

hotline for the most current

information regarding their

return.

17 Aug Family Readiness Program Meeting

20 Aug Jumpin’ Jax Indoor Inflatable Bounce House

26 Aug In the Midst Workshop

9 Sept Movie on the Lawn, “Madagascar 2”

16 Sept Girls Night Out Dinner

24 Sept Banner Making Party