Posted on 08/12/2005 4:25:57 PM PDT by SandRat
NEW YORK (August 12, 2005) -- Marines from Marine Aircraft Group 49, Detachment B, in Newburgh, N.Y., received awards on the field of the New York Mets’ Shea Stadium amidst the cheers and applause of Mets fans, August 7.
Staff Sgt. David R. Boucher, avionics technician, and Capt. Joshua M. Vance, assistant operations officer, of Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 452 were each awarded a Navy Commendation Medal for their “outstanding performances” while on recent deployment in Iraq.
“We had a very long successful deployment. We brought everybody back and nobody got hurt. The biggest memories I have are when we were involved in the Iraqi elections, moving the Iraqis around in our planes. I saw how happy they were to see that we were there,” said Vance of his six months in Fallujah, Iraq.
Vance also said that while in Iraq, he supported almost all of the squadron’s operations as the head of VMGR 452’s logistics. However, he said his most important mission was making sure all of his Marines made it home safely…Marines like Boucher, who, according to his medal citation, adapted and overcame the lack of supplies in completing the squadron’s mission.
“I ran the electric shop out there for six months. We had major problems with some of the new systems they integrated on the C-130s, but we were able to accomplish repairing them without the proper publications and technical parts. Basically, I can say a flight never went down for us,” said Boucher.
A joint service honor guard was also in attendance on the field to recognize the anniversary of the badge of military merit or Purple Heart.
The recognition of military excellence seemed to inspire the Mets as they later trampled the Chicago Cubs, 6 to 1.
MARINES and Baseball a natural combination.
The Mets are the CLASSY team in NYC.
Very cool SandRat!!
Thanks, as always, SandRat, for bringing another great post to us.
OH COOL rack Sandrat rack NY Mets on doing this despite the fact they not going anywhere
Of course, neither are the Yank-offs. ;-)
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