Recounting 03, good and sad moments
Submitted by: MCRD San Diego
Story Identification Number: 200418131733
Story by Chevron staff



MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif.(January 8, 2004) -- 2003 was an eventful year for Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, one filled with success and loss.

The new year kicked off with a change in the recruit training schedule. Jan. 8 was the official end of Team Week during recruit training, which means recruits no longer serve mess and maintenance duty. That seven-day period was replaced with additional training.

Many recruits, Marines and sailors gave the gift of life throughout the year during various blood drives held aboard the Depot, as well as Weapons and Field Training Battalion, Camp Pendleton, Calif. During 2003, recruits donated 3,496 units of blood, which was a substantial increase from last year's total of 2,718. Additionally, four Depot personnel blood drives netted 216 units.

After several months of renovations, the Depot's new sports bar, the Locker Room, opened its doors Jan. 24. The grand opening marked the end of a five-month-long renovation of the Recreation Center's bar, which became a high-quality sports showplace that gives service members and Depot civilians an inexpensive place to relax and unwind.

Depot Marines continued to train and perform duties in the Ground Security Force throughout 2003. "When things go wrong, there is fog of war and confusion," said Col. John T. Boggs, then commanding officer of Headquarters and Service Battalion. "If something were to happen here, there would be a lot of confusion. Being well-trained is a way to cut through the fog and confusion."

During March, the world watched as Operation Iraqi Freedom began. Even though the Depot and the Western Recruiting Region's missions are recruiting and recruit training, there were Depot service members who were called upon to serve in the war. One of those service members was Hospital Corpsman Third Class Michael Vann Johnson Jr. "Doc" Johnson cared for the recruits of Company H, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion here, but he received orders in January to deploy with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. Johnson was killed in action March 25 when a rocket-propelled grenade hit the Humvee in which he was traveling.

"He was about service," said Rear Adm. J.A. Johnson, commander, Naval Medical Center San Diego. "Service to Marines, service to sailors and service to family."

A graphics illustrator from the Depot's Combat Visual Information Center also played an important role during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sgt. Jack M. Carrillo served as a combat illustrator during the war. Instead of capturing images on film, he used sketch pads, pencils, graphite and charcoal to tell the Marine Corps story. From Kuwait to Baghdad, Carrillo created more than 150 sketches depicting various aspects of war.

Professional football training is tough, but five San Diego Chargers found out Marine Corps recruit training is no picnic. Quarterback Drew Brees, linebackers Donnie Edwards and Zeke Moreno, and wide receivers Terry Charles and Eric Parker experienced a day in the life of a Marine Corps recruit March 24. Their first stop was at the yellow footprints where they were greeted by not-so-friendly drill instructors. The football players spent the morning running through the Obstacle Course and visiting various training sites. After lunch at the recruit chow hall, the Chargers headed to Weapons and Field Training Battalion. There they had the opportunity to fire weapons and watch recruits in action during the Crucible. Players talked with recruits and told them how they admired their decision to serve their country.

In May, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Michael W. Hagee, and former Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sgt. Maj. Alford L. McMichael, visited the Depot to thank its personnel for making Marines. It was Hagee's first visit to the Depot as Commandant and McMichael's last visit as Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps.

The Depot welcomed a new sergeant major when Sgt. Maj. Frank E. Pulley replaced Sgt. Maj. Bruce A. Mackamul as the Sergeant Major of MCRD San Diego April 25. Mackamul was the Depot sergeant major since August 1999. He retired from the Marine Corps in June.

The recruit training schedule underwent another major change in May. The new schedule lengthened third phase training by two weeks, giving recruits more time to recover from the physical rigors of training during phase two. The new schedule was implemented to better prepare new Marines for Marine Combat Training after graduation.

Always striving to be good neighbors, the Depot hosted 21,000 marathon runners at the finish line of the 2003 Rock 'N' Roll Marathon for the third consecutive year.

The Depot also serves as the headquarters for Western Recruiting Region and one of its recruiting districts reached a major milestone. The 12th Marine Corps District Marines made history in June when they celebrated 100 consecutive months of making its recruiting mission. The district celebrated with a picnic, attended by three colonels who served as commanding officers during the those 100 months, which began February 1995. "This was a tremendous achievement accomplished by hundreds of Marines who worked tirelessly to find young, highly qualified Americans to take up the challenge of becoming a United States Marine," said Col. Angie Salinas, commanding officer, 12th Marine Corps District.

In July, the Depot command museum was renamed James L. Day Hall in memory of the late Maj. Gen. James L. Day. He was a Medal of Honor recipient for actions on Okinawa during World War II and served in the Marine Corps for 43 years. The museum was named in his honor because of his accomplishments as a Marine and his contributions to the preservation of history.

Maj. Gen. Jan Huly relinquished command of MCRD San Diego and the Western Recruiting Region to Brig. Gen. John M. Paxton Jr. Aug. 29. During his tenure, the Depot made noteworthy accomplishments for which Huly accepted little credit. "I'm only the commanding general here," said Huly. "I try to orchestrate and ensure that people of the recruit depot are doing all the accomplishing of things."

A second Depot building was renamed during a dedication ceremony in September. The Branch Medical Clinic was renamed Johnson Hall in honor of "Doc" Johnson. After he was killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Johnson was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart and promoted to petty officer second class for his bravery and selflessness. The clinic also dedicated a wall to Johnson's memory. The wall features a painting of Johnson and photos of him serving in Iraq. Brig. Gen. Paxton attended the ceremony and spoke of Johnson's bravery and sacrifice. "He wasn't afraid to step into harm's way and take care of Marines on the battlefield," said Paxton. "We were honored to have served with Michael Johnson. We're honored to recognize his legacy."

In October, the Depot opened its doors to civilian competition again during the second MCRD San Diego Boot Camp Challenge. Nearly 1,800 Marines, sailors and civilians participated in the Boot Camp Challenge, a three-mile obstacle run through the Depot that made runners not only run, but jump, crawl, climb and push. The Boot Camp Challenge kicked off Fleet Week 2003.

Dry October Santa Ana winds turned a brush fire into a firestorm that raged across San Diego County and killed more than 20 people, destroyed nearly 1,200 homes and burned more than 315,000 acres. Although the firestorm did not reach the Depot, the impact here was great. Several Depot Marines, sailors, civilians and their families had to evacuate their homes and many service members from around San Diego County sought shelter at MCRD billeting. More than 200 adults and 200 children took shelter at the bachelor enlisted quarters. The firestorm also affected the Depot's daily activities and recruit training. Intense smoke, ash and soot from the massive fires filled the air. The air quality was deemed unhealthy by county officials and physical and outdoor activities were curtailed until the smoke cleared a couple of days later.

When fiscal 2003 came to end, it was time to recognize the top drill instructor, recruiter, and recruiting staff noncommissioned officer in the nation. MCRD San Diego and Western Recruiting Region won those top honors. The 2003 Drill Instructor of the Year was Gunnery Sgt. Terrence C. Whitcomb, series gunnery sergeant, Company K. The 2003 Recruiter of the Year was Gunnery Sgt. John H. Choi from Recruiting Station Orange, Calif., 12th Marine Corps District. The 2003 Staff Noncommissioned Officer of the Year was Gunnery Sgt. Kent Cartmill, from Recruiting Substation Reno, Nev., Recruiting Station Sacramento, 12th Marine Corps District.

It was an eventful year for the Depot, and in December it was time for service members to gather for fun competition and camaraderie at the annual Commanding General's Field Meet. The field meet was the final event in the year-long CG's Cup competitions. After the points were totaled, Recruit Training Regiment took first place, Headquarters and Service Battalion came in second place, and the Coast Guard took third.

2003 is in the history books, and Depot Marines, sailors and civilians are ready to charge into the new year and continue to be successful in building the future of the Marine Corps.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn20...E?opendocument

Sempers,

Roger