Lima Company. Hawaii. September 2005.
“Lima Company conducted a Hike from Bellows to Marine Corps Base Hawaii.” — Source: 3/3 Command Chronology for the Period 01 July to 31 December 2005
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Hitting the pavement
Cpl. Michelle M. Dickson
Lima Company conducted a Hike from Bellows to Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
The training was good for conditioning the Marines, preparing them for carrying gear longer distances while hardening up the feet, explained 1st Lt. Luke Lazzo, platoon commander, 2nd Platoon, Lima Company, 3/3.
An approximate total of 62 Marines, and hospital corpsmen, headed out to the field at Bellows on the morning of Sept. 14, where they took part in a security operations exercise and mounted patrols, before stepping off at 3 a.m. the next morning, for the long hike back to K-Bay.
“We ended training on Wednesday night before dark, so it would give the Marines the opportunity to rest before morning,” said the Rochester Hills, Mich. native. They carried a sustained load, which is roughly everything that someone would need for a certain amount of time in the field.
It was the first real hike for approximately 20 Marines with Lima Company, according to Lazzo. On previous hikes, Marines carried lighter loads so they could acclimate to the tropical Hawaiian weather.
“This was my first hike with Lima Company. I’ve only been here for about a month and a half now,” said Pfc. Josh Sonnier, saw gunner, 2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon, Lima Company, 3/3. “It wasn’t too bad. The hardest thing for me so far was the time we did the squad rushes on the range.”
Sonnier said he is looking forward to his first deployment with Lima Company.
“I’m pretty excited about it. I wanted to have the opportunity to go over there,” said the Sweet Lake, La. native. “I know the more experienced Marines are looking out for all of us new guys to make sure we don’t get hurt. They’re all pretty great.”
This was approximately the third hike for Lima Company within two months, and for some, it definitely seemed like the longest one, said Sgt. Rodrigue Jean-Paul, squad leader, 2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon, Lima Company, 3/3.
“The thing that was good about the hike was that this was the first one off base and we weren’t just going around in circles,” said the Queens, N.Y. native. “We actually went from a point A to a point B this time.”
Jean-Paul said there are approximately 14 new Marines in 2nd Platoon of Lima Company, and they all have been catching on to things quickly and are doing very well.
“They can do it all. They are bright, energetic and willing to learn,” said Jean-Paul. “I’m going to a place with these guys that I know they will have my back and I will have theirs. I have no worries when I get there.”
In the near future, there will be another battalion hike, which will be approximately 12 miles for the Marines and take place on base.
“The Marines did an outstanding job on the hike, there were no real problems that occurred,” said Lazzo. “It’s just good training.”
Source: Hawaii Marine
Photographs
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- PFC Josh Sonnier, Lima Company. Hawaii. September 2005.
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- Lance Corporal Kevin Neale, Lima Company. Hawaii. September 2005.
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- Lima Company. Hawaii. September 2005.