thedrifter
07-30-08, 06:32 AM
A distinguished career ends
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Maj. Gen. Robert Dickerson wraps up 36 years of service to the Marine Corps
July 30, 2008 - 12:17AM
MOLLY DEWITT
DAILY NEWS STAFF
His plan to try out for the Boston Red Sox was put on hold, permanently, when the military had a different strategy for him.
"I've won one lottery in my life ... I was number 10 in the draft lottery in 1969," said Maj. Gen. Robert C. Dickerson.
Dickerson, instead, chose to enter the Marine Corps out of college and now, after 36 years of service, the first commanding general of Marine Corps Installations East will retire in a 7 o'clock ceremony aboard Camp Lejeune this evening.
As commanding general of MCI East, Dickerson provided strategic direction and oversight for seven Marine Corps installations in five states. He said there's a lot he is going to miss, but there is one thing that stands out the most.
"Getting up every morning and coming to work with phenomenal Marines," he said. "I have never had a bad day - except when a Marine or sailor was killed."
Sixteen years of Dickerson's career were spent stationed at or deploying from Camp Lejeune, and he considers eastern North Carolina as the most military friendly place he's ever been exposed to.
"It's been an absolute pleasure to come here to work through the challenges with the community," he said.
During his tenure, Dickerson was integral in numerous projects aboard Camp Lejeune and within the Marine Corps. Some of the achievements he is most proud of are improving the quality of life for Marines and their families, sustaining ranges at area military installations and working to offset some of the cost area communities are going to encounter because of the impending military growth.
One of Dickerson's priorities was the care and support of wounded troops. He listed the groundbreaking for the Fisher House earlier this year as one of the highlights of his career. The Fisher House will provide a free and temporary place for families of injured service members to stay while their loved one receives care.
"This is going to be a one-of-a-kind in the Department of Defense," he said.
Dickerson plans to stay connected with various Wounded Warrior organizations after his departure from the Marines "to make sure they're taken care of."
"The global war on terror brings to light the danger of this business ... now we have a lot more that have been wounded," he said.
From 2003 to 2005, Dickerson served as the last commanding general of Camp Lejeune before colonels were permanently assigned as base commanders.
One of the biggest challenges Dickerson said he has faced was keeping Marines safe.
"We understand bad things happen on the battlefield, but we don't understand why we go out and kill ourselves on the highway," he said.
Marines are asked to take risks while on the battlefield but are expected to turn that off when they come home, he said.
"How do we keep the kids safe once they get back here?" he asked.
In 2005, Dickerson was involved in the process of turning over 9.81 acres of land, formerly part of the Camp Lejeune Railroad, to the City of Jacksonville for use in the Rails to Trails Greenway project.
Dickerson plans to spend the first couple of months of retirement relaxing, and he admits it will "be kind of neat to sleep past 5:30 a.m."
But he is not one to be idle for long. He has already been asked to give leadership classes at various colleges and universities and is considering taking on a consulting role.
"People are hungry for leadership," Dickerson said.
And retiring from the Corps doesn't mean the general can't or won't come back to the military.
"Will I do something else? Stay tuned for further details," he said.
Contact Jacksonville/Onslow government reporter Molly DeWitt at 910-219-8457 or mdewitt@freedomenc.com.
Ellie
Comments 0 | Recommend 3
Maj. Gen. Robert Dickerson wraps up 36 years of service to the Marine Corps
July 30, 2008 - 12:17AM
MOLLY DEWITT
DAILY NEWS STAFF
His plan to try out for the Boston Red Sox was put on hold, permanently, when the military had a different strategy for him.
"I've won one lottery in my life ... I was number 10 in the draft lottery in 1969," said Maj. Gen. Robert C. Dickerson.
Dickerson, instead, chose to enter the Marine Corps out of college and now, after 36 years of service, the first commanding general of Marine Corps Installations East will retire in a 7 o'clock ceremony aboard Camp Lejeune this evening.
As commanding general of MCI East, Dickerson provided strategic direction and oversight for seven Marine Corps installations in five states. He said there's a lot he is going to miss, but there is one thing that stands out the most.
"Getting up every morning and coming to work with phenomenal Marines," he said. "I have never had a bad day - except when a Marine or sailor was killed."
Sixteen years of Dickerson's career were spent stationed at or deploying from Camp Lejeune, and he considers eastern North Carolina as the most military friendly place he's ever been exposed to.
"It's been an absolute pleasure to come here to work through the challenges with the community," he said.
During his tenure, Dickerson was integral in numerous projects aboard Camp Lejeune and within the Marine Corps. Some of the achievements he is most proud of are improving the quality of life for Marines and their families, sustaining ranges at area military installations and working to offset some of the cost area communities are going to encounter because of the impending military growth.
One of Dickerson's priorities was the care and support of wounded troops. He listed the groundbreaking for the Fisher House earlier this year as one of the highlights of his career. The Fisher House will provide a free and temporary place for families of injured service members to stay while their loved one receives care.
"This is going to be a one-of-a-kind in the Department of Defense," he said.
Dickerson plans to stay connected with various Wounded Warrior organizations after his departure from the Marines "to make sure they're taken care of."
"The global war on terror brings to light the danger of this business ... now we have a lot more that have been wounded," he said.
From 2003 to 2005, Dickerson served as the last commanding general of Camp Lejeune before colonels were permanently assigned as base commanders.
One of the biggest challenges Dickerson said he has faced was keeping Marines safe.
"We understand bad things happen on the battlefield, but we don't understand why we go out and kill ourselves on the highway," he said.
Marines are asked to take risks while on the battlefield but are expected to turn that off when they come home, he said.
"How do we keep the kids safe once they get back here?" he asked.
In 2005, Dickerson was involved in the process of turning over 9.81 acres of land, formerly part of the Camp Lejeune Railroad, to the City of Jacksonville for use in the Rails to Trails Greenway project.
Dickerson plans to spend the first couple of months of retirement relaxing, and he admits it will "be kind of neat to sleep past 5:30 a.m."
But he is not one to be idle for long. He has already been asked to give leadership classes at various colleges and universities and is considering taking on a consulting role.
"People are hungry for leadership," Dickerson said.
And retiring from the Corps doesn't mean the general can't or won't come back to the military.
"Will I do something else? Stay tuned for further details," he said.
Contact Jacksonville/Onslow government reporter Molly DeWitt at 910-219-8457 or mdewitt@freedomenc.com.
Ellie