Story by Cpl. Chris Lyttle
FALLUJAH, Iraq (June 25, 2008) – For
those who accept the challenge to become a U.S. Marine, most never
consider that one day they may again cross paths with their drill
instructor.
A
person they once feared, and one who challenged them with constant
mental frustration and pushed their physical abilities to the limit.
That
day came for Cpl. John Williams, a section leader with Mobile Section,
Company I, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, when he reunited with his senior
drill instructor from Platoon 1012, Company B, 1st Battalion, Marine
Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.
At
the unit’s home station, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Williams
was on duty the day Staff Sgt. William Willis checked in as the platoon
sergeant for 3rd Platoon, Company I.
“One
day I was sitting in the company office working as the platoon sergeant
for the day and in comes Staff Sergeant Willis,” Williams recalled. “I
looked at him and said, ‘Man, I know that guy.’ Somebody said it was
Staff Sergeant Willis and I said, ‘Oh … that’s my senior drill
instructor!’”
Willis, with a bold, direct and sometimes high-strung demeanor, dropped an all-too-familiar drill instructor line on Williams.
“He looked over at me and said, ‘Do I owe you money? Because you’re looking at me like I owe you money,’” Williams said.
“No
staff sergeant. I think you were my senior drill instructor,” Williams
replied. “We started talking and he said, ‘Yeah, I think I was.’ It
wasn’t until we got to Iraq when we started getting a little closer.”
Willis
checked Williams into Platoon 1012 from the Medical Rehabilitation
Platoon January, 2006 at recruit training. After a leg injury set
Williams back two months, he finished the final phase of recruit
training with Willis and graduated Feb. 10, 2006.
“When
I saw him for the first time, he was standing on my quarterdeck with
all of his seabags and his rifle,” Willis said. “I walked in, asked him
who he was and where he was coming from. I got him in, got all of his
processing paperwork and put him in my platoon.”
Willis described how he remembered Williams before he earned the title of a Marine.
“Cpl.
Williams was a good recruit,” Willis said. “He was already on the
island for a while and he came to us right before The Crucible. I had
to motivate him through it and get him to graduate. I think if I
would’ve had him longer, he would’ve probably been one of my squad
leaders.”
Williams said it was Willis’ leadership and guidance that he remembers most.
“He
was a really motivated senior drill instructor,” Williams said. “He was
infantry, so he was from where I was going and got me to see what the
infantry side of the Marine Corps was like. Yeah, there were a couple
of times I really didn’t like him that day, but I really looked up to
him a lot and I still do. He motivated the hell out of me.”
Another
motivational sentiment that sticks with many Marines is their drill
instructors’ often repeated phrases. Williams’ reminder is present
every day, as Willis is often seen reminding Marines to ‘Stay fired
up!’”
During
recruit training drill instructors often stress that a Marine’s true
colors will show in a real combat situation. The two met that challenge
earlier this year when they coordinated a medical evacuation after one
of their patrols was attacked with an improvised explosive device in
the city of Fallujah.
“I
was out doing a (convoy) run,” Williams said. “I actually wasn’t
supposed to return until later that day. I was far away when the
(command post) made the call and they told us to just stand by. I said,
‘Hell no, we’re going there to help them out.’”
Willis
was the watch officer for the day and was responsible for coordinating
platoon operations by radio messages. With Willis’ timely information,
Williams’ section quickly evacuated the injured Marines in less than 20
minutes.
“The
response time was good and they did a really good job with the
MEDEVAC,” Willis said. “They did exactly what they were supposed to do.
They got in and got the injured Marines out. I was actually surprised
at how fast they moved.”
Since
then, the two have built a stronger working relationship with each
other and amongst the platoons in Company I. Williams attests that it
is easier now as a Marine to find respect on a two-way street.
“Dealing
with him as a drill instructor on Parris Island and seeing him now as a
platoon sergeant puts things into a different perspective,” Williams
said. “I get a little more respect back than when I was just a recruit.
Now I can talk to him man-to-man. He’s an awesome guy.”
Willis said it is rewarding to see former recruits like Williams excel in the fleet.
“It’s
good to see your recruits who are doing good things in the fleet,”
Willis said. “It’s very positive for drill instructors. Corporal
Williams is with Mobile Section, so he’s responsible for moving us here
and there and getting stuff we need. We depend on him a lot. He’s part
of our company’s [quick reaction force] and we depend on him to get us
out of trouble if something does happen.”
On
duty at a joint security station in Fallujah, Willis declared that
Williams and all of his Marines are the best in the battalion, because
they ‘Stay fired up.’ Before he could explain why, one of his Marines
sprinted past him through the hall wearing physical training clothes,
sneakers and a pack that probably outweighed him. Since these Marines
don’t have the luxury of going outside for a jog down the street, they
adapt and overcome to what limited training spaces they are given.
“You see that – Did you see,” Willis yelled as the Marine blurred by. “That’s why we’re the best. That’s how we stay fired up!”
Comments
It is respect and comraderie like this that keeps
Us the best fighting force in the entire freakin' world.
GO MARINES!!!
The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the blog post - From the Front: 07/14/2008 - News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.
http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2008/07/from-front-07142008.html