lessonslearned A Career’s End A


In the 1980s, a young military offi cer learns from his barracks CO about the importance of recognizing the accomplishments of all those who serve in the Marine Corps.


As a young officer, I was assigned to a Marine Corps barracks in Pearl Harbor, Ha- waii, in the mid-1980s. There was a nucleus of about 500 Marines under the operational control of the barracks CO, but also on the barracks’ rolls were several Marines who were assigned to us for administrative pur- poses but who were under the operational control of Navy staff or other base units. One day, a Marine gunnery sergeant who


was listed in our rolls administratively and was assigned for duty to one of the Navy intelligence staff s appeared at the barracks and announced his intention to retire. The barracks would duly process his retirement through Marine Corps channels. The gunny had served his 20 years of ac-


tive service and was eligible to retire. All he wanted to do was submit his request for retirement, pick up his completed re- tirement papers, and leave the barracks without any fanfare or ceremony in his honor. After all, it was his right to do so. But when the CO of the barracks heard


the gunny had requested no ceremony, he asked to meet with him. Before they met, the CO called several members of the gunny’s unit from the Navy staff and explained to them he was going to hold a retirement ceremony and going-away party for the retiring gunny and asked whether any of them would be willing to help with the planning. The sailors and


98 MILITARY OFFICER MARCH 2011


Marines who worked with the gunny were more than happy to assist. The CO had 100-plus Marines and sail-


ors there on the day of the gunny’s retire- ment. The gunny headed to the barracks thinking he would pick up his retirement papers and leave. When he came into the room to fi nd the Marines and sailors pres- ent on his behalf, the crusty gunny had a hard time keeping his stoic bearing. Ma- rines and sailors, one after another, came forward to tell the gunny how he had made a diff erence in their unit and in their per- sonal lives. The gunny was struck by how many people’s lives he touched and how many people valued his service. When the CO read his retirement orders, there was hardly a dry eye in the house.


recognition The lesson the colonel gave us that day


was that every Marine and every Marine’s service matters, in whatever capacity he or she serves. I never forgot that lesson, and I never let anybody in the units that I commanded just walk out the door unno- ticed when it was time to leave.


MO


— John E. Borley is a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel. He lives in Grapevine, Texas. For submission information, see page 20.


Tell Your Story Submit your lessons learned by e-mail to profseries@moaa.org or by mail to MOAA Professional Series, 201 N. Washington St., Al- exandria, VA 22314. All submissions will be con- sidered for publication. Comment on the latest lesson or share your own at www.moaa.org/ lessonslearned.


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