MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE ALBANY, Ga. -- Two Marines returned to Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Ga., Sept. 9, following service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Gunnery Sgt. Kevin Hewitt and Lance Cpl. Leonardo Ilas were greeted by Marines and friends when they arrived at the main entrance to Building 3500.
“It’s always good to come out and let the Marines know that we’re really happy to have them back,” said Maj. Ricardo Matus, company commander, Headquarters Company East, Marine Corps Logistics Command.
Now that he’s safely home after six months of service in Afghanistan, Hewitt said his first priority was to “take a shower, by myself.”
He added that watching television and sports are also high on his list.
While deployed, he assisted with retrograde activities for the Marine Expeditionary Brigade in that country.
For Ilas, the heat in Iraq proved to be the most constant problem during his five-month deployment.
“The average daytime temperature at my deployed location was about 100 degrees plus everyday,” he explained. “We inspected vehicles to see if they were good to go and shipped them to Kuwait or Afghanistan.”
The two Marines’ return is part of the on-going support provided by LOGCOM to Overseas Contingency Operations. Marines and civilian-Marines deploy and return here from short and long tours of overseas duty.