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GrYph0n's Blog

Officially Deployed Overseas

Well, it is totally official now. I am on deployment with the United States Marine Corps (Primary Career). I figured I would try to keep people posted on what I can, in-case anyone is interested. Yeah, not going to be too much gadget related stuff in here, unless I see some cool gadgets while in other countries.

For those that didn't know, I am deployed with the 11th MEU(SOC) which is Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). I am aboard the USS Germantown, doing what I can to maintain sanity (a lot of PSP action with 8 on 8 SoCom matches). Don't let that mislead you though, I have a lot of work that I do on a daily basis, but that is something that I do in the evenings to help make things go faster and make it more enjoyable. Currently on ship I am the Combat Cargo Platoon Sergeant which in tels too much to really get into, and most isn't very interesting. If we were to go "in country" then I would return to my position in the infantry company that I am assigned to, the Combat Cargo thing is a temp duty while on deployment. It makes life interesting for me as I am an in between for the Marines and the Navy (Blue/Green Team) on the ship, I have connections and try to get things done for the Marines through the naval crew. Interestingly I answer to both sides while doing this job, I have a Navy boss and a Marine boss, as well as being the boss of the Combat Cargo crew, some days can be very interesting when being pulled in different directions at once depending on what is going on. Guess that is about it on that front.

I am currently in Hawaii, Oahu to be more specific. I am staying in a hotel on Waikiki beach, just to get off ship and relax. It is really a shame that I didn't bring my digital camera, the view is amazing from my balcony at the Sheraton Moana Surfrider. I have only been deployed for ten days now, but honestly it has seemed like much much longer. This deployment is pretty uncertain considering everything that is going on in the world, so it is untelling what I may be up to in the coming months.

If anyone is interested in sending care packages to Marines, you can ship to the following address.

Care of Sgt Jones, Eric D.
1/4 B CO Combat Cargo
UNIT 40260
FPO AP 96610-0260

Guess that about covers it for now, stay tuned for more. I will add more when and if I get the chance. Thanks for reading.

by: abatis on Feb 26 2006, 02:25 PM

Gryph,Great to hear from you. I wish you had some Pics from Paradise. Let us know what kind of stuff you like in the care packages and we will get going on it. An assignment away from home is tough - Thanks to you and the others that serve the USA.

by: SkippyTheNurse on Feb 26 2006, 07:52 PM

Be careful and be cool. Although the Marines never wanted a punk kid with asthma (such as myself) I do have a family history of Marines. An uncle fought in Vietnam and a cousin in Iraq. Neither of them know what Window's Mobile is but that's all good. Com'on back ya hear!

by: nate2953 on Aug 4 2006, 05:08 PM

Hello, I found your blog and it caught my eye as I am leaving on the 26 MEU as an 0351, who was picked for combat cargo watch. I was confused because no one has any information for me, if you could asnwer a question i would be so grateful. This assignment doesnt sound so, how do you say, good to me. It sounds like a lot of long hours and back breaking work, and from what i hear we have to stay on the ship, i was told even if we were to be sent to iraq or somewhere i would get left behind while my platoon got to go do the stuff grunts signed up for. That is what breaks my heart the most, ill work all day if i have to, oh well ill be getting the shaft over and over again so might as well get used to it, but if they take away my right to fight, man i dont know what im gonna do. Now i read you were the platoon sergeant for the combat cargo platoon, do you have any information for me on the day to day life of LCpl so and so who got assigned this duty. I heard something about extra pay, not that it makes up for not being able to fight, but money is always good, and ive read a few other things saying the hours are long and all your platoon buddies are still sleeping and not doing anything while combat cargo slaves around. Please clear up some rumors for me if you could, not knowing what ill be doing is killing me, if i knew at least i could work on dealing with it you know, i appreciate it and stay safe
Semper Fi
PFC Cole

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