Press Releases

2d Marine Division Marine Recognized, Virtually, by Governor Roy Cooper for Service with USNS Comfort
5 Nov 2020

A U.S. Marine with Lima Company, 3d Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment (3/2), 2d Marine Division, was virtually recognized by Governor Roy Cooper for his service while providing security for the USNS Comfort during the COVID-19 relief effort as a part of ‘Task Force New York City’. The virtual ceremony took place at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, on October 28, 2020.

 

Lance Corporal Andrew Hatmaker, a Knoxville, Tenn., native and a team leader in 1st platoon, Lima Company, 3/2, received a certificate of appreciation during the virtual ceremony. Lance Cpl. Hatmaker deployed to New York City with his unit, in support of ‘Operation Gotham’, on March 28, 2020.

 

“LCpl Hatmaker exemplifies the traits sought after in our small unit leaders. His professionalism, proficiency, and ability to solve complex problems quickly facilitated the life-saving actions of TFNYC,” stated Captain Peter Hofinga, company commander, Lima Co., 3/2.

 

During the deployment, Lance Cpl. Hatmaker led vehicle and personnel checkpoints across a 1.2-kilometer-wide Manhattan cruise terminal. His work as a team leader contributed to the life-saving actions taken by the Naval Medical Task Force as they helped facilitate the transport of 180 patients onto the ship.  Furthermore, Lance Cpl. Hatmaker’s team screened more than 200 vehicles and 300 personnel accessing the pier complex daily and mitigated unauthorized flights of unmanned aerial systems flying near the ship, all while coordinating with numerous organizations such as the New York Police Department (N.Y.P.D), New York Fire Department (N.Y.F.D.), New York City Emergency Operations Center, U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Navy.  

 

Imagery of the ceremony is available at the 2d Marine Division DVIDS page (see link below).  For more information about the ceremony, please reach out to First Lieutenant Sydney Murkins at (970) 768-1807 or Sydney.murkins@usmc.mil.

 

-USMC-

For imagery of the event, please visit

DVIDS: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/2MARDIV