Volume 2, Issue 11

April 1, 2011

Watch the HST in action

as they deliver Bobcat to FOB

Help from
Lance Cpl. Seth A. Peikert, originally from Darien, Wis., a
landing support specialist with Helicopter Support Team,
Landing Support Detachment, Headquarters and Sup-
port Company, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward),
ensures chains and straps are properly secured during
an HST mission aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan,

Above
March 29. During the operation, a Sikorsky CH-53E Super
Stallion, picked up an 11,500-pound bobcat to transport
it to Forward Operating Base Azadi, Afghanistan, to
support landing zone improvements. The HST conducts
similar operations numerous times a day to sustain FOBs
throughout Helmand province, Afghanistan, in support of
International Security Assistance Force operations.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Bruno J. Bego

Helicopter support team sends heavy equipment via air

Lance Cpl. Bruno J. Bego
2nd MLG (FWD) Public Affairs
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan –
Marines with Helicopter Support Team,
Landing Support Detachment, Headquar-
ters and Support Company, 2nd Marine Lo-
gistics Group (Forward) conducted an HST
mission where they attached a bobcat to a
Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion, March
29, aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.
“This tractor is one of many pieces of
equipment and material we have sent lately
See HST, Page 2

8th ESB ‘Engineer Day’ field meet Also:

Blotter ... Page 2

breeds competition ... Page 4 CLR-15 TOA ... Page 2

Warrior of the Week ... Page 3
Follow us on
 The Warrior’s Log Page 2

Ready to Support
2nd Maint. Bn. assumes command from CLR-15
Lt. Col. Kevin R. Scott
(right) and Sgt. Maj.
Clifford W. Wiggins
(lright), uncase the
organizational colors Photo by Lance Cpl. Bruno J. Bego

for 2nd Maintenance Marines with Helicopter Support Team,

Battalion (Forward), Landing Support Detachment, 2nd Marine
symbolizing their Logistics Group (Forward), attach a bob-
assumption of com- cat to a Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion
mand from Combat during an HST mission, March 29.
Logistics Regiment
15 during a transfer HST,
of authority ceremony continued from Page 1
aboard Camp Leath-
erneck, Afghanistan,
March 30. During their to [Forward Operating Base] Azadi,”
seven-month deploy- explained Sgt. Jonathan D. Fassnacht,
ment, Marines and the Arrival Departure Airfield Control
sailors with CLR-15
Group staff non-commissioned officer
conducted 85 combat
logistics patrols and in charge. “The equipment and material
traveled 5,780 miles will support improvements on the land-
across mine-laden ing zone.”
terrain to supply for-
The HST conducts similar operations
ward operating bases
throughout Helmand numerous times a day to sustain troops
province in support of at FOBs throughout southwestern Af-
International Secu- ghanistan, where deliveries by helicop-
rity Assistance Force
ter are becoming more common.
operations.
“HSTs are more effective,” said Lance
Cpl. Seth A. Peikert, originally from
Darien, Wis., a landing support special-
ist with HST, LS Det., 2nd MLG (Fwd.).
“Especially with the mountains in Af-
ghanistan …. we use HSTs to get the
supplies to the troops faster.”
No matter what they have to load, the
team will organize it, pack it, place it on
the landing zone and ensure it is proper-
ly attached to the helicopter to guarantee
Photo by
Lance Cpl. Bruno J. Bego the cargo arrives at its destination.

29 March 2011 - A Marine with 8th Engineer Support Battalion reported an

unknown person(s) stole various pieces of CIF-issued gear from his secured
coffin rack. An investigation revealed no leads of suspects. The estimated
value of the stolen government property is $1,811.48.

28 March 2011 - A Marine with 2nd Medical Battalion was observed as she
placed a pair of sunglasses in her handbag and proceeded to the exit of the
store without rendering payment. The Marine was detained, processed and
released to a unit representative. The total value of stolen property was $8.99.
 The Warrior’s Log
Sgt. Marcus Brito, now a data network specialist with the 2nd Marine Logistics Group (For-
ward), and Michael Palazzo pose for a picture before going into the operating room at Colum-
Against All Odds
bia Presbyterian Hospital, N.Y., Jan. 15, 2010. Brito donated his kidney to Michael.
Queens native donates kidney to save a life
Cpl. Rachael Moore
2nd MLG (FWD) Public Affairs
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan –
Gifts come in all shapes and sizes. Some
are better than others. Some are expensive
and some are not. However, there’s one
gift no amount of money can buy.
Sgt. Marcus Brito, a data network spe-
cialist with 2nd Marine Logistics Group
(Forward), says he never had second
thoughts about his gift.
“If you have the chance to save some-
one’s life, wouldn’t you?” Brito asked.
When Brito was in high school in
Queens, N.Y., one teacher, Jennifer Palaz-
zo, stood out among the rest. She was
his physiology teacher during his junior
year and his Advanced Placement biology
teacher the following year.
“Senioritis really set in during my se-
nior year,” Brito explained. “And to top it
off, I was having problems at home.
[Jennifer] talked to my other teachers and
explained what was going on. I probably
Courtesy Photo
wouldn’t have graduated without her.”
Throughout the years, Brito and Jennifer
stayed in touch and a year ago he had a
chance to help her just like she helped him.
In November 2009, Brito sent Jennifer
a text message to say hello and to see
how things were going. She replied her
husband was in the hospital.
“I couldn’t make it down there that day,
but as soon as I could take a day off work
I went to the hospital,” Brito explains.
“This is the first time I’d met her husband.
I knew a lot about him, and when I saw
him, I couldn’t believe my eyes.”
The man he was looking at was noth-
ing he envisioned. The 280-pound body
builder laid in the hospital bed hooked up
to more wires than one could count. His
blood pressure was sky-high. His kidneys
were failing.
“During my visit, the doctor came in,”
Brito said. “I was about to leave, but Mi-
chael told me to stay.”
See KIDNEY, Page 5
Page 3
Sergeant
Marcus Brito
Job: Data Network Specialist
Hometown: Queens, N.Y.
Q: If you were stranded on a
desert island, what is one piece
of issued gear you would want
with you?
A: “My IFAK with the brand
new tourniquets. Those things
are high speed.”
Q: What is your favorite MRE?
A: “Chicken with Noodles.”
Q: Why did you join the
Marine Corps?
A: “To be different and to take a
break from school.”
Q: Do you have a hero?
A: “Jennifer Palazzo, my high
school teacher, best friend and
mentor. She always gives me
sound advice and has more
self-discipline than anyone I’ve
ever met.”
 The Warrior’s Log
St. Pat’s Day
Showdown
(Above) Cpl. Antonio Paul, an engineer with 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, flips a tire during an Engineer
Day field meet aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 17, 2011. The battalion’s companies were pitted against one another in events through-
out the day, which included a truck pull, a pull-up challenge, tire roll, tug-of-war and a relay race.
8th ESB ‘Engineer Day’
breeds competition
Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado
2nd MLG Public Affairs
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. –
Sporting their “Marine green”
and healthy doses of motiva-
tion, Marines and sailors with
8th Engineer Support Battalion,
2nd Marine Logistics Group,
celebrated St. Patrick’s Day in a
way of their own aboard Camp
Lejeune, N.C., March 17.
Though the holiday is tradi-
tionally associated with all things
Irish, engineer units Corps-wide
have long dubbed the occasion
as “Engineer Day.”
According to legend, St. Pat-
rick himself was an engineer by
trade, supposedly using his en-
gineering skills to rid Ireland of
snakes thousands of years ago.
Marines today, however, utilize
their skills each year on this fes-
tive day to engage in friendly
competition during the annual
“Engineer Day” Field Meet.
“I think it’s great that they
had a field meet like this and
not just a formation where they
cut some cake,” said Lance Cpl.
Kevin Schneider, an engineer
with 8th ESB. “Marines love
to prove that they are better
than the next guy so this is our
chance, and even if you don’t
win it’s still fun to come out
here with everyone from the
unit and have a great time.”
During the field meet, doz-
ens of Marines from across six
companies were pitted against
one another. There were six
events which included a truck
pull, a pull-up challenge, tire
roll, tug-of-war and a relay
race. Each challenge had a
team from every company
competing for the right to call
themselves the champs.
As the competition went on,
Marines were not shy about
supporting their companies.
“Let’s go headquarters!”
yelled Schneider. “I want to win
this bad because it’s not just a
celebration, this is for bragging
rights. We’ll be friendly after
we’re done, not now.”
Schneider wasn’t the only Ma-
Page 4
Photo by Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado
rine to admit there were no
friends on the field this day.
“Let’s go out there and do
our best,” said 1st Sgt. Michael
Bowen, the Headquarters Com-
pany first sergeant, 8th ESB.
“Let’s win this!”
The competition was strong,
but so was the understanding of
the event.
“Competition is great, but ev-
eryone knows what we’re here
for,” said Bowen. “It’s an im-
portant day for engineers, and
they should be proud.”
Engineers have accomplished
much in recent times. The bat-
talion is responsible for build-
ing bridges and improving
roads in Afghanistan, along
with being one of the leaders
in sweeping for improvised
See ENGINEER, Page 5
 The Warrior’s Log Page 5

Sgt. Marcus Brito,

a data network spe-
cialist with the 2nd
Marine Logistics
Group (Forward),
stands outside
at Camp Leather-
neck, Afghanistan,
March 24, 2011.
Just over a year
ago, Brito, a 23 year
old, Queens, N.Y.,
native, donated a
kidney to a friend’s
husband.
Photo by Cpl. Rachael Moore
KIDNEY,
continued from Page 3
The doctor informed them Michael needed
a kidney transplant as soon as possible.
“The news was grim,” Michael Palazzo,
Jennifer’s husband, later wrote in a letter to
the 2nd MLG (Fwd.) command. “The night-
mare of finding a kidney donor had begun.”
Without hesitation, Brito told Jennifer, “He
can have one of mine.”
Jennifer was in shock and questioned
Brito’s offer. He responded, “You saved my
life, and now I’m going to save Michael’s.”
“When Jennifer told me that, my initial
response was he would never do that,” said
Michael. “But then he walked up to me and
said ‘What’s up, I’m Marcus. You don’t know
me, but I have a kidney for you.’”
For the next few days, Brito continued to
visit Michael in the hospital when Michael had
to have a dialysis catheter put into his chest.
“The dialysis really took a toll on me,” ex-
plained Michael. “The day I entered the hospital,
Nov. 12, 2009, I weighed 278 pounds, but by the
time of my surgery, I only weighed 219 pounds.”
Doctors began the transplant process Dec.
14. Brito filled out the donor questionnaire
ENGINEER,
continued from Page 4
explosive devices throughout
Helmand province.
Marines need to enjoy this
day and that’s why we did this
meet, he added.
However, seriousness was
on the back burner for to-
day, as Marines walked from
station to station chanting
for their fellow team mem-
and underwent testing to see if he was able to bers and trying to distract
give Michael his kidney. members from other teams,
“The doctors ran every kind of blood test you which was new for Michelle
can think of,” explained Brito. “I even had to Godfrey, the unit’s fam-
talk to a psychologist, but all of it was worth it.” ily readiness officer. It was
A week later, Dec. 22, the doctors called. Godfrey’s first time attend-
Brito was a match. ing the celebration.
“Once again, I was in amazement,” said “This is what you guys call
Michael. “As soon as I hung up the phone, I fun,” said Godfrey. “This is
couldn’t wait to tell [Brito]. I must have called basically a mass (physical
his phone a dozen times.” training) session. If I was cel-
“For some reason I never doubted I would be ebrating something I would
a match, as crazy as it might sound,” explained be relaxed or hanging out,
Brito. “The doctor said we were so closely you know normal things. You
matched the odds were one in 30, 000. That’s gotta love Marines. If this is
when it really hit me this wasn’t a coincidence.” what they want to do, then I
Two months went by, and the tests were say great.”
complete. “It was game time,” Brito said. The main goal of the event
After a six-hour surgery, the two emerged was to bring the battalion to-
from the operating room. The living kidney- gether and have a good time,
donor transplant was a success. said Bowen.
“I honestly can say that day, [Brito] and I “I think we accomplished
became brothers,” Michael wrote in the letter. that here, either that or these
Jennifer helped Brito graduate high school Marines are really good at
so he could continue his life by serving in the pretending,” said Bowen as he
Marine Corps reserve and going to college. laughed at himself.
Brito returned the favor by giving her husband “Good times with Marines
a kidney so they could continue their life together. - that’s what it’s all about.”

Commanding General Public Affairs Officers Public Affairs Chief

Brig. Gen. Michael G. Dana 1st Lt.. Michele Perez Staff Sgt. Theresa E. Seng (FWD)
2nd Lt. Joshua Smith (FWD)
Sergeant Major Press Chief
Sgt. Maj. William T. Stables Combat Correspondents Sgt. Justin J. Shemanski
Cpl. Rachael Moore (FWD)
Command Master Chief Cpl. Melissa Latty
CMDCM Russell W. Folley LCpl. Bruno J. Bego (FWD)
Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado

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