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U.S. Marines Help Rebuild Djiboutian Soccer Field
Defend America News ^ | 2nd Lt. Omar Villarreal

Posted on 05/18/2006 4:53:20 PM PDT by SandRat

Photo, caption below.
U.S. Marines assigned to the 4th Provisional Security Company, stationed with Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa in Djibouti, work together to clean and rebuild a soccer field outside Camp Lemonier. Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa photo
U.S. Marines Help Rebuild Djiboutian Soccer Field
The project, which involved removing trash, smoothing and marking
the field and adding nets to goal posts, was time well spent, according to the Marines.
By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Omar Villarreal
Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa
CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti, May 18, 2006 — Fifty U.S. Marines with the 4th Provisional Security Company here helped rebuild a soccer field recently at a small local village.

"It’s good to see we were able to make a difference in some peoples lives. When the locals came out and helped us work on their field, we knew how they felt."
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Richard Christian

The company, stationed with Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa, has been deployed in Djibouti since March and provides force protection for the camp.

“We noticed the soccer field needed a little help,” said U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Garth Massey, 4th Provisional Security Company executive officer. “And we decided we were up for the challenge.”

The project, which involved removing trash, smoothing and marking the field and adding nets to goal posts, took the company about four hours to complete. It was four hours well spent, according to the Marines.

“We needed to do this,” Massey said. “When you see people who can benefit from small things it is only right to provide what you can when you can.”
Kellogg, Brown and Root provided the nets and marking equipment, but the Marines and locals worked together to make the effort a unifying experience.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Richard Christian said he felt gratified the work his fellow Marines put into rebuilding the field was appreciated by the local community.

“It’s good to see we were able to make a difference in some peoples lives,” Christian said. “When the locals came out and helped us work on their field, we knew how they felt.”

With a mission focused on conducting operations and training in order to assist host nations establish secure environments and regional stability, this is only a small improvement project that Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa servicemembers have participated in, but one that is no doubt happily received.

Other projects the task force is involved in include digging wells, visiting orphanages, building schools and clinics, and providing medical and veterinary assistance to Horn of Africa communities.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: africa; children; djibouti; field; help; marines; orphans; rebuild; soccer; us; youth

1 posted on 05/18/2006 4:53:22 PM PDT by SandRat
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To: 91B; HiJinx; Spiff; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; clintonh8r; TEXOKIE; windchime; Grampa Dave; ...

Leave it to the MARINES


2 posted on 05/18/2006 4:53:42 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: SandRat

Given that Djibiouti has the largest contingent of French military outside of France, they should have left it to the frogs.

But now that I think about it, that's what they did. Till they realized that, as usual, the frogs would do nothing.


3 posted on 05/18/2006 4:55:39 PM PDT by Philistone (Turning lead into gold...)
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To: SandRat

Sounds like a good aux. lift point also. Could probably take four or five choppers at a time. Ssshhh... no telling secrets, oops!

No2


4 posted on 05/18/2006 5:23:29 PM PDT by No2much3 (I did not ask for this user name, but I will keep it !)
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