Posted on 02/07/2006 3:27:56 PM PST by SandRat
AL ASAD, Iraq (Feb. 7, 2006) -- Visits from the Marine Corps’ commandant and sergeant major can be career highlights for any Marine, but Lance Cpl. Nicholas M. Gardner anticipated the Feb. 3 visit to Al Asad, Iraq, more than his comrades.
He knew that when the Corps’ senior leaders came to visit Marines and sailors deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, his father, the Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources, would be joining them.
“I consider it a privilege to be here,” said Lt. Gen. Emerson N. Gardner. “I’m thrilled to see not just my son, but also the Marines and Sailors and what they’re doing.”
Lt. Gen. Gardner joined the commandant and sergeant major as they visited various units at Al Asad and enjoyed a meal with the Marines. He saw his son when the group traveled to the Al Asad flightline and visited Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 774, a reserve CH-46 Sea Knight Squadron based at Naval Air Station Norfolk, Va.
“Seeing him makes me think of my first years in the Marine Corps,” said Lt. Gen. Gardner. “The best thing about seeing him in his unit is seeing him in his environment. He’s well led and seeing that camaraderie (makes it) clear that they’re happy to have him on that team and he’s happy to be there.”
Nicholas, a native of Norfolk, is a crew chief on the CH-46, the same aircraft his father learned to fly as a lieutenant. The two were planning to fly together, but inclement weather at Al Asad prevented the flight from getting off the ground.
“It’s one of the original war birds,” said Lt. Gen. Gardner. “It’s an enormous source of pride that he’s a crew chief on the same aircraft I learned how to fly 32 years ago.”
Nicholas enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve during September 2005. He said he had grown bored with college and decided to join the Marine Corps. He was given the option of joining the unit close to his home, HMM-774. Because HMM-774 flies CH-46s, he decided to join them. “My dad’s career influenced me a little bit,” he said. “I had grown up around the Marine Corps and always liked the aviation side of it, especially CH-46s.”
The deputy commandant said he never pushed any of his children to follow him into the Marine Corps. He was surprised when Nicholas told him he was going to enlist, but also very proud. Nicholas said he never felt pressure to join, but had always liked being around the Marine Corps.
“I enjoyed it because we got to move a lot,” he said. “I’ve lived in Norway and England, and those are once in a lifetime opportunities. I’ve also made a lot of friends.”
Gunnery Sgt. David Huffman, HMM-774’s flightline noncommissioned officer-in-charge said it’s obvious that joining the Marine Corps was something Nicholas wanted to do. He called Nicholas one of the most motivated young Marines who worked for him.
“He’s constantly learning and absorbing knowledge,” said Huffman. “He’s very respectful and dedicated to his job.”
Lt. Gen. Gardner said he knew his son would eventually deploy to Iraq, but that didn’t make him unsupportive of his decision to enlist. Nicholas said his current focus is on finishing his deployment and then completing his college degree. After that, he’s considering many options, including becoming an officer.
“He’s very supportive of what I’m doing,” said Nicholas. “He supported me 100 percent in joining the Marine Corps, but he wants to make sure I’m focused on finishing school.”
Whatever he does, he’ll always have the memory of meeting his father in a combat zone.
“This was great because down the road I’ll be able to say I went to war and my dad was there with me,” he said. “That’s exciting and definitely a good memory to have.”
The senior Gardner said he’s always happy to visit Marines fighting the war. He said it inspires him to return to Washington, D.C., and do whatever he can to make the war more successful.
“It’s good for me to see these Marines doing what they do, and it motivates me,” he said. “It’s just icing on the cake for me to see my son, too.”
A Marine Family
I wonder how Saddam reflects on his relationship with HIS sons. Oh yeah,...they are dead,..because of him. Not much reflection I suppose. The Mother of all idiots. Time to go eat a pinapple with Noreiga.
| Lieutenant General Emerson N. Gardner Jr. Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources |
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| Lieutenant General Gardner is currently assigned as the Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources at Headquarters, Marine Corps. Lieutenant General Gardner is a 1973 cum laude graduate of Duke University; he was named an Olmsted Scholar for 1978 and studied history and political science for two years at Goettingen, Germany. He is a graduate of The Basic School, Defense Language Institute, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College, the Norwegian Defense College and the National Security Leadership Course at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. A Naval aviator since 1974, Lieutenant General Gardner has served as a helicopter pilot in all three Marine Air Wings. At HMX-1 from 1980-1985 he was a White House Liaison Officer and Presidential Helicopter Command Pilot. As Commanding Officer of HMM-261 from 1989-1991, Lieutenant General Gardner led the Raging Bulls in Operation Sharp Edge, the evacuation of Liberia, and Operations Desert Shield and Storm. He has more than 4,300 flight hours in most of the aircraft currently in the Marine Corps inventory. Lieutenant General Gardner served as Commanding Officer of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) for two deployment cycles to the Mediterranean from 1996 to 1998. During his tour the MEU conducted Operation Silver Wake, the non-combatant evacuation (NEO) of Albania, Operation Guardian Retrieval, contingency support for a NEO of Kinshasa, Zaire and Dynamic Response, the first employment of SACEUR's Strategic Reserve into Bosnia. As a staff officer, Lieutenant General Gardner has served as G-3 Current Ops Officer with the 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade in Okinawa, Deputy G3 for II Marine Expeditionary Force and as the J-3 (Operations Officer) for the Standing Joint Task Force, MARFORLANT. From 1993-1995 he was the Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations and Logistics at Allied Forces Northern Europe at Kolsas, Norway and at Allied Forces Northwestern Europe, in High Wycombe, England. From 1998-2000 he served as Assistant Deputy Commandant for Aviation at Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington DC. His tour as the Deputy Commander of US Marine Corps Forces, Atlantic from 2000-2002 included extended temporary additional duty as the Deputy J-3 for Current Operations at US Central Command in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Most recently General Gardner was the Director for Operations, J3 at US Pacific Command. Lieutenant General Gardner's awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Gold Star in lieu of second award, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of second award, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with Strike Numeral "1", Navy Commendation Medal and Presidential Service Badge. (Revised September 16, 2005) |
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BTTT
Great story. Thanks.
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