OOOOOOOOOH We're Half Way There!!!!

Arson families and friends,

It’s official!  We have crossed the halfway mark and we are now on the backside of the deployment.  Thank you to all the ladies and families that participated in the Alpha Battery “Half way mark” potluck and get together.  A special thank you goes to Lindsey Ledbetter for allowing us to use your home as the rally point.  All of your Marines are doing extremely well.  Living conditions and amenities have significantly improved since we have arrived.  Meats, fresh fruits, vegetables and sodas have begun to arrive consistently at both positions.  Mail is regularly delivered and the Marines always enjoy “mail call.”  Believe it or not, the temperatures have slowly decreased in the past week.  It’s still going to be hot for another month or so but the worst part of the summer is passing.  Marines are staying busy with MCMAP, working out at the gym, completing MCI’s, and relaxing when not in fire missions.  As always, we continue to ask for your thoughts and prayers.  We miss you all so dearly.  Arson on point! 

Capt. Lee

Update from FB Saenz (1stLt Sagerholm):

Greetings from FB Saenz,

We have reached the halfway mark in the deployment. Most see it as halfway finished, while the few pessimists in the group see it as still three and half months to go. But at least it is not the Army because this would be our quarter way celebration.  All the Marines at Fire Base Saenz have maintained a high level of discipline and continue to keep each other in high spirits. They find ways to pass the time when not occupied with their daily duties. A Marine on Sergeant Ledbetter's section, Lance Corporal Quezada, found a new friend crawling over him while lying in his rack. The large camel spider was crawling on his chest when he shined a flashlight on it. The spider ran into his bag and he jumped up out of his rack shouting for help. Lance Corporals Lopez and Herasti came over to see if they could help flush out this abnormally large spider. Once they shined a light on it, the spider ran in the direction of Lance Corporal Ortiz, one of the biggest Marines in the platoon, who in turn ran away from the spider, all the way to the MCMAP pit. If the Taliban had 8 legs I would be worried.

Congratulations are in order for our newly promoted Fire Direction Officer, First Lieutenant Petersen, and to Sergeant Corella who was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.  Job well done Marines. 

1stLt Sagerholm