A Day of Sacrifice and a Life of Commitment

Mid-morning on the 10th, the birthday of the Morning Corps, we found ourselves on a rooftop, still in the process of securing the facility. Dan, my fire support team leader and company representative, was coordinating artillery and aviation support on the radio. Suddenly, the rooftop became untenable due to the intensity of incoming fire. As we pulled back, Dan was shot while descending the stairs. The round hit his upper back, and I heard the impact on his front sappy plate as we were talking. It was a sobering moment in the midst of battle.

A Legacy of Service

I was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, but moved to Marietta, Georgia, at six months old, which I consider my hometown. My father served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, and while his service stories influenced my decision to join the military, I was drawn to the Marine Corps for different reasons. The Gulf War, which coincided with my senior year in high school, ignited a fire in me. I wanted to serve and be part of something bigger than myself, and the Marine Corps felt like the right path to achieve that.

The Call to Serve

After attending West Georgia College, where I met my wife, I was still uncertain about my future until I met a Marine officer recruiter. That encounter rekindled my desire for service. I participated in the Platoon Leaders Course and attended Officer Candidate School in the summer between my sophomore and junior years. I was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduation in 1995, and from there, my journey as a Marine Corps officer truly began.

The Path to Leadership

Following my commission, I attended The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, a six-month program for all Marine officers, regardless of specialty. This foundational training ensured that every officer was prepared to lead a rifle platoon if needed. Three-quarters of the way through the course, I was assigned my military occupational specialty, infantry, which had been my first choice. I then completed the Infantry Officer Course and assumed command of my first infantry platoon with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

A Pre-9/11 Marine

Between 1996 and 1999, I served with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, in a variety of deployments, including a non-combatant evacuation operation in Sierra Leone. Afterward, I was assigned to the School of Infantry, where I spent three years as a company commander and battalion operations officer. It was during this time, on September 11, 2001, that the world—and the trajectory of my service—changed.

The Impact of 9/11

On the morning of 9/11, I was the director of an advanced infantry training company. Like most Americans, I watched the tragic events unfold on television. My immediate concern was to inform my subordinates, who were in the field training, about the attack. While my orders did not change immediately, I knew the Marine Corps and the nation were on the brink of something monumental.

Preparing for a New Era of Conflict

I continued my career by attending the Expeditionary Warfare School in 2002, even as Operation Iraqi Freedom began. Like many of my peers, I was eager to be in the fight rather than sitting in a classroom. Upon graduation in 2003, I was assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, but with most of the battalion still deployed, I took the opportunity to volunteer for a training mission in Georgia (the country). After completing that assignment, I returned to the battalion in January 2004, just as preparations for the second battle of Fallujah were beginning.

The Build-Up to Fallujah

The mission in 2004 was clear: counterinsurgency, stability, and security. However, the possibility of large-scale combat operations in Fallujah was always present. As we prepared for deployment, the Marines were focused, knowing that a significant fight might be ahead. By late October, rumors of a large offensive began circulating, and by November, we knew we were headed to Fallujah.

The Battle of Fallujah

On the night of November 8th, 2004, the operation began. The initial push into the city was marked by intense fire from both coalition forces and insurgents. For the Marines, this was the moment of truth—a test of everything we had trained for. While Alpha Company served as the division reserve that first night, the intensity of the operation made it clear that this would be the largest and most significant battle of our careers.

A Legacy of Service and Sacrifice

Looking back on my career, from the early days of service to the intense combat in Fallujah, one theme remains constant: the dedication of the Marines to their mission and each other. Whether it was in training or on the battlefield, the Marine Corps instilled a sense of purpose, camaraderie, and resilience that shaped who I am today. The lessons learned and the sacrifices made will never be forgotten, not just by those who served, but by the nation they protected.

For those who have served, and for those who continue to sacrifice, the legacy of the Marine Corps lives on.