Me and the U.S. Marine Corps 
I joined the Marine Corps in May of 1989 shortly after graduating from Cherry High School in Iron, MN. I
reported to MCRD in San Diego, CA. After graduation I went to the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, CA
where I was trained to be a mortar man on the 60 mm mortar. I then received orders to Marine Barracks Japan
Detachment Sasebo where I spent the next two years. In 1991 I then transferred to Bravo Company 1st
Battalion, 4th Marines, FMF, Weapons Platoon. Shortly after checking in, we embarked aboard the USS
Schenectady LST-1185 for a six month deployment. We saw action in the Gulf during operation desert stay, and
again in Somalia during the first stages of the conflict. After returning to the states I participated in a few more
military exercises with the DEA and the U.S. Border Patrol. I got out May 29th, 1993 after a successful four
year tour. I missed the Corps so I joined again in 1995 this time to be assigned to HMT-303 to be trained as a
helicopter mechanic on the UH-1N Huey and the AH-1W Cobra helicopters. After school I checked into HMLA-
367, Scareface. I was with them for four years as a door gunner on the Huey. After two tours to Okinawa,
Japan with the
31st MEU, I left January 1999. I reported in at this time to MCAS Yuma, AZ Search and Rescue unit. While
there I was the Quality Assurance Chief. I left there on October 1st 2002 and headed for the east coast for
the first time. I am now stationed at MCAS New River with HMLA-269, Gunrunners.
