thedrifter
10-27-06, 01:14 AM
MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO (Oct. 27, 2006) -- After more than five months on the depot, one Company E Marine is finally earning the title which he has worked so hard to achieve.
Pfc. Daniel J.S. Jeffrey, Platoon 2031, trained with three different companies and spent two months in the Medical Rehabilitation Platoon before completing boot camp.
He first arrived on the depot May 22, and picked up with Company M. After making it to training day 13, he was dropped from training for a hernia and pneumonia.
While Jeffrey was in MRP recovering from the surgery that corrected his hernia, he received news of his grandfather’s death. Due to the post-operative state he was in, he was not able to attend the funeral.
Jeffrey took his grandfather’s death hard and life in MRP only added to this tragedy.
"It’s hard being dropped from a training company," said Jeffrey. "You spend every day knowing time is going by, and you’re not getting any closer to graduating boot camp."
Jeffrey spent about two months in MRP before he resumed training with Company L. He remained with that training company for almost three weeks before learning his mother was terminally ill.
He was granted 10 days leave to visit with his dying mother. When he arrived at his home in Medford, Ore., he found his mother had already passed away.
"It was hard not being there with her," Jeffrey said. "She was my best friend."
Although Jeffrey had the option of staying home, he returned to the depot after his mother’s funeral. He said his mother’s inspirational letters during boot camp and conversations they had before he left for recruit training encouraged him to finish what he started.
When he returned from leave, he picked up with his third and final company. He resumed training on training day 21 with Company E and became the platoon guide the next day.
"He was a good recruit," said Sgt. Deverson Lochard, drill instructor, platoon 2031. "He was a good leader, had a goal and achieved it."
According to Lochard, Jeffrey was highly respected among the other recruits. They admired him for his leadership, motivation and initiative.
Jeffrey kept his position of platoon guide from that day until the final training day where he, along with the other six platoon guides in the company, went in front of a board of drill instructors who decided who would be Co. E’s honor graduate.
Jeffrey won that board deeming him the company honor man of Company E, a position he promised his mother he would achieve before she passed away.
"In a way, my mother’s death gave me more drive and reason to be the best," said Jeffrey.
He joined the Marine Corps for the pride of belonging, and felt he owed his country a favor in return for the one it gave him. Jeffrey, who was born in North Korea, said if it wasn’t for the Marine Corps, he would be living in a communist country. According to Jeffrey, it is the Marines who fought in the Korean War who gave him the opportunity to serve in a free country.
Today, a Marine who overcame tragedies and obstacles throughout his stay aboard the depot graduates at the top of his company. Although it took three companies and an additional two months to earn the title, Jeffrey is, and will always be a United States Marine.
Ellie
Pfc. Daniel J.S. Jeffrey, Platoon 2031, trained with three different companies and spent two months in the Medical Rehabilitation Platoon before completing boot camp.
He first arrived on the depot May 22, and picked up with Company M. After making it to training day 13, he was dropped from training for a hernia and pneumonia.
While Jeffrey was in MRP recovering from the surgery that corrected his hernia, he received news of his grandfather’s death. Due to the post-operative state he was in, he was not able to attend the funeral.
Jeffrey took his grandfather’s death hard and life in MRP only added to this tragedy.
"It’s hard being dropped from a training company," said Jeffrey. "You spend every day knowing time is going by, and you’re not getting any closer to graduating boot camp."
Jeffrey spent about two months in MRP before he resumed training with Company L. He remained with that training company for almost three weeks before learning his mother was terminally ill.
He was granted 10 days leave to visit with his dying mother. When he arrived at his home in Medford, Ore., he found his mother had already passed away.
"It was hard not being there with her," Jeffrey said. "She was my best friend."
Although Jeffrey had the option of staying home, he returned to the depot after his mother’s funeral. He said his mother’s inspirational letters during boot camp and conversations they had before he left for recruit training encouraged him to finish what he started.
When he returned from leave, he picked up with his third and final company. He resumed training on training day 21 with Company E and became the platoon guide the next day.
"He was a good recruit," said Sgt. Deverson Lochard, drill instructor, platoon 2031. "He was a good leader, had a goal and achieved it."
According to Lochard, Jeffrey was highly respected among the other recruits. They admired him for his leadership, motivation and initiative.
Jeffrey kept his position of platoon guide from that day until the final training day where he, along with the other six platoon guides in the company, went in front of a board of drill instructors who decided who would be Co. E’s honor graduate.
Jeffrey won that board deeming him the company honor man of Company E, a position he promised his mother he would achieve before she passed away.
"In a way, my mother’s death gave me more drive and reason to be the best," said Jeffrey.
He joined the Marine Corps for the pride of belonging, and felt he owed his country a favor in return for the one it gave him. Jeffrey, who was born in North Korea, said if it wasn’t for the Marine Corps, he would be living in a communist country. According to Jeffrey, it is the Marines who fought in the Korean War who gave him the opportunity to serve in a free country.
Today, a Marine who overcame tragedies and obstacles throughout his stay aboard the depot graduates at the top of his company. Although it took three companies and an additional two months to earn the title, Jeffrey is, and will always be a United States Marine.
Ellie