Retired in March 2008 - rehabed the home in Vancouver, WA (yes, there are two Vancouvers - I'm living in the one across the Columbia River from Portland, OR). SPent 2 1/2 years working in Saudi Arabia. Returned home and went back to school (have an MBA degree - emphasis in Health Care Management) Been working for a local school district for a while. Have learned how to appreciate life, especially since our time here on this Big Blue Marble is so limited.
Other Comments:
OK - someone is gonna ask..."Chris, why are there two American Flags on the map"? Well the reason for that is that I've been to WAKE ISLAND...the C-141 had to make a stop at that scenic beacon in the middle of the Pacific (#3 engine shut down midway between Guam and Hawaii)..."Where America's Day Starts" is on the wall at the terminal (sorry, Guam). There are more birds on the island than people (scientists reside on the island). Got to see remnants of the Marines defense of the island during the opening days of WWII...brave men doing a difficult job. It was memorable, almost humbling visit...
NEC HM-8404-Medical Field Service Technician/FMF Combat Corpsman
Base, Station or City 29 Palms
State/Country California
Patch
7th Marine Regiment Details
7th Marines was formed at Philadelphia on 14 August 1917 during the World War One, the 7th Marine Regiment immediately deployed to Cuba for two years. They were deactivated in the demobilization that followed the war. When the Marine Corps was once again called upon to provide peacekeepers in the Caribbean (1933), elements of the Regiment were reactivated and deployed on Naval ships off the Cuban coast. At the end of the crisis, 7th Marines was once again deactivated.
With the cloud of World War II on the horizon, the nation expanded the size of the Corps and on the first of January 1941, the Seventh Marine Regiment was reactivated in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and was assigned to the First Marine Brigade; The Regiment moved to what is today Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. On the second of April 1942, the Regiment embarked for the Pacific to reinforce units already there to stem the Japanese march towards Australia. On September 18, 1942 after training in jungle warfare in the Samoa Islands, the Regiment landed in the Solomon Islands on Guadalcanal. For four long months the Regiment relentlessly attacked the Japanese defenders and repulsed their Banzai charges and suicidal attacks. In a hundred fights the Regiment earned a reputation for courage and daring. On Guadalcanal the heroism of Medal of Honor winners; Manila John Basilone, Mitchell Paige and Navy Cross winner Chesty Puller, represented the actions of the Marines of the 7th Marine Regiment.
On 8 October 1994 the action cycle began again for 7th Marines (Reinforced) when a crisissituation in Southwest Asia forced the Decision to terminate CAX 1/2-95 in order toprepare for a MPF deployment and link up with MPSRON-2. This high paced contingencyoperation was titled Vigilant Warrior. Although the National Command Authority did notgive the order to deploy the entire Regiment, its Advanced Elements moved into the Gulf.In operation Vigilant Sentinel, from August to November 1995, this sequence was repeated.
In August of 1996, organizational changes once again designated 3rd LAR Battalion(Formerly LAI Bn) and 1st Tank Battalion as separate Battalions in direct support of the7th Marine's MPF Mission. Also in direct support is Delta Company 3rd AA Battalion whoreturned to 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion.
16:32 5/12/2008Tactics and missions may change, unit designations may change, but the courage, honor andprofessionalism of generations of Marines and Sailors who have fought, and will fight, fortheir Nation under the proud Colors displayed before you, will never change
