Previously Held NEC 00E-Unknown NEC/Rate
HN-0000-Hospitalman
HM-8404-Medical Field Service Technician/FMF Combat Corpsman
HM-8406-Aerospace Medical Technician
Best Moment I hated my first assignment with the Marine Corps (Delta Co., 2nd Medical Bn). Dozens and dozens of HM's basically working in a warehouse. When I transferred to D Co., 1st Bn, 2nd Marines, I found myself with some true professionals. As long as I did my job, treated them with respect and did what they did, they treated me great. It was here that my love affair with the Corps truly started. Over the years I would spend over 10 years with the Marines, even going back to the 2nd Medical Bn., where I was the Company Commander of the aforementioned Delta Co., then the Command Senior Chief for the Battalion.
Worst Moment Not sure I would call it a worst moment, but I learned what racism was first hand on this tour. Jacksonville, NC is the civilian town that is supported by Camp Lejeune. Court street was the main drag and was loaded with bars and bookstores. Mebane and I ran together on base, but he would never come out to town. When I asked him why, he told me to look around the next time I was in town and tell me how many blacks I saw in the bars. I did . . . . zero. The blacks had a side of town where they went to. I then noticed the "colored" rest rooms and drinking fountains in the bus station. Not a comfortable feeling for me.