2/24 Motor T delivers; keeps ground combat element in the fight

080623-M-0582M-002low

HABBANIYAH, Iraq (July 1, 2008) – Working from sunrise to sunset, repairing damaged vehicles and delivering essential supplies to the infantry companies is the name of the game for Motor Transportation (Motor-T) Marines in Iraq.

Marines with Combat Trains 1 and 2 of 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, have driven more than 9,000 miles during their five months in Iraq, helping to keep the battalion in the fight.

        “We travel to about 20 different locations to re-supply the (infantrymen) with supplies that they need,” said 1st Lt. Nathan J. Loomis, the Motor-T officer-in-charge. “We deliver anything from fuel, water, food, supplies, repair parts… whatever the unit needs, we take it to them”

        With infantry units relying more heavily on mobile patrols, Motor-T’s job has become even more important in accomplishing the battalion’s mission.  

080623-M-0582M-003low

  “The (infantrymen) aren’t going on as many foot patrols as they have before, so if we weren’t there to fix-up the trucks, they wouldn’t be able to complete their mission as proficiently,” said Cpl. Anthony J. Kim, a 26-year-old maintenance shop chief from Chicago. “If they have a (vehicle) problem, we fix it. We are basically their mobility.”

        Although the combat train’s have been in and out of Camp Habbaniyah several times per week during their first five months in Iraq, only one incident has occurred in the near 100 trips on the road, but the Marines stay alert and are confident they have the proper training if something were to happen again.

080623-M-0582M-001low

  “Because of the training we’ve (completed), if something were to happen, we would know exactly what to do,” said Lance Cpl. Brent C. Glays, a MK-19 gunner with Combat Train 2.

        With their Iraq tour nearing the end, the Marines are excited about returning home, but are determined to finish out their deployment strong and go home knowing their mission in Iraq was accomplished and they brought everyone they came to Iraq with back home safely.