Why I Stay - The Caliber of Our Military

Posted By Blackfive

Via Seamus (an old salty Marine Corporal), here's a great story about a Marine Corporal who saves the day for a Powerpoint presentation for LtGen Mattis.  The Corporal isn't a hero and this is no war story - he's just a regular Marine with a "can-do" attitude.  It shows why the author sticks around the Marine Corps (and, BTW, why I like to hire vets):

People have often asked me why I continue to work the way I do, long hours, few rewards, never ceasing pressure of optempo.  And, it is difficult for me to answer.  But, yesterday, 11 May 2005,  something happened that more clearly explains the "why" than any words that I can put together.   Here is the story. 

I am fortunate to lead the Amphib and Prepositioning Capabilities Branch here at MCCDC.  My team had been working long hours to prepare a brief for LtGen Mattis.  We had charts made up at the base CDIV shop for the brief.  After a pre-brief to the General that morning, changes to the charts were needed.  The CDIV shop did a wonderful job of turning the work quickly.  Myself, LtCol Wison and two others swung by the audio visual shop and LtCol Wilson ran in and grabbed up the charts, stuffed them into the back of my truck and off we went.

Upon arrival at the MCCDC Pentagon liaison office, we realized that one of the charts had been duplicated twice and one of the needed charts was missing.  We took immediate action by calling back to Quantico to (1)  have the correct chart made and (2) have the needed chart brought up.  My part of this was to arrange delivery of the chart.  The 'big' meeting was in less than two hours.  I called Col Oltman first, but he was out of his office.   

Meanwhile, the General has departed the Pentagon office and is waiting for us in the hallway to accompany him to another meeting taking place prior to the 'big' meeting. So,  there is a level of urgency to get this done quickly.  As Col Ruess was leaving the office, I asked him if he knew the phone number of the Chief of Staff and he did.  He shot me two numbers stating that the second number was to the General's secretary.  I called it because I figured the Chief would likely be in a meeting.  A Corporal answered the phone.  Thinking that I was speaking to one of the Marines in the CG's admin area, I rapidly told the Corporal what we needed and that I would turn him over to Gina, the secretary in the Pentagon office (Gina would provide directions).  As I recall, the Corporal said; "I got it."  I rushed out of the office to catch up with the General...

As we left the first meeting and were waiting outside the office of a Vice Admiral for the second meeting to start, I stood outside the office peering down the hall, anxiously hoping to see someone with a chart.  Nothing.  The meeting time grew closer, the two Executives were talking privately as we waited.  About 30 seconds (no kidding) prior to going in for the brief, Gen Conant's aid enter the office with a chart in his hand.  What a relief.

What I found out later was that the number that I dialed was the WRONG number. I had screwed up.  I was told that the Corporal that I talked to was either the dog handler for the MPs, or worked for the base Veterinarian...or both.   So, here is a Corporal who gets a call out of the blue from some old washed up retired Marine Lt Colonel who tells him that he needs a chart for LtGen Mattis brought to the Pentagon ASAP...and instead of telling me that it was not his job or, as I am a prior-enlisted Gunny and can think of many other colorful things that he could have said to me...and he said "I got it." The chart is delivered just in time, because of a non-hesitant Corporal, who cares. 

So, Col Lukeman, who was that Corporal?  I personally want to meet him.  Also, I have those charts in the back of my truck.  I will be happy to beg the CG to sign them.  One for the Corporal, and one for his Colonel, who approved the immediate response. 

It is days like this, and people like that Corporal and his trusting Colonel that make being around Marines one of the greatest privileges in my life.  Being with Marines is the closest normal people can get to greatness...and that is why I stay.  Thirty-four years and counting.

Semper Fi
Pat O'Bryan

The Corporal was tracked down. 

Marine Corporal Michael Huntley (son of a former Marine Sergeant) was just doing his job, being a Marine first and an MP dog handler second. 

Marine Corporal Huntley and his bomb detecting dog "Keve" will deploy to Iraq in August.

---

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Comments

Why I Stay - The Caliber of Our Military

Via Seamus (an old salty Marine Corporal), here's a great story about a Marine Corporal who saves the day for a Powerpoint presentation for LtGen Mattis.  The Corporal isn't a hero and this is no war story - he's just a regular Marine with a "can-do" attitude.  It shows why the author sticks around the Marine Corps (and, BTW, why I like to hire vets):

People have often asked me why I continue to work the way I do, long hours, few rewards, never ceasing pressure of optempo.  And, it is difficult for me to answer.  But, yesterday, 11 May 2005,  something happened that more clearly explains the "why" than any words that I can put together.   Here is the story. 

I am fortunate to lead the Amphib and Prepositioning Capabilities Branch here at MCCDC.  My team had been working long hours to prepare a brief for LtGen Mattis.  We had charts made up at the base CDIV shop for the brief.  After a pre-brief to the General that morning, changes to the charts were needed.  The CDIV shop did a wonderful job of turning the work quickly.  Myself, LtCol Wison and two others swung by the audio visual shop and LtCol Wilson ran in and grabbed up the charts, stuffed them into the back of my truck and off we went.

Upon arrival at the MCCDC Pentagon liaison office, we realized that one of the charts had been duplicated twice and one of the needed charts was missing.  We took immediate action by calling back to Quantico to (1)  have the correct chart made and (2) have the needed chart brought up.  My part of this was to arrange delivery of the chart.  The 'big' meeting was in less than two hours.  I called Col Oltman first, but he was out of his office.   

Meanwhile, the General has departed the Pentagon office and is waiting for us in the hallway to accompany him to another meeting taking place prior to the 'big' meeting. So,  there is a level of urgency to get this done quickly.  As Col Ruess was leaving the office, I asked him if he knew the phone number of the Chief of Staff and he did.  He shot me two numbers stating that the second number was to the General's secretary.  I called it because I figured the Chief would likely be in a meeting.  A Corporal answered the phone.  Thinking that I was speaking to one of the Marines in the CG's admin area, I rapidly told the Corporal what we needed and that I would turn him over to Gina, the secretary in the Pentagon office (Gina would provide directions).  As I recall, the Corporal said; "I got it."  I rushed out of the office to catch up with the General...

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