Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Devin Nichols | Gen. James F. Amos (left), the 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps, and Lance Cpl....... read more read more
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PHILADELPHIA - Thousands of people gathered at Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia, to witness the March 1 commissioning ceremony for the USS Somerset, the last of three troop transports named in honor of 9/11 victims.
But for Pfc. Uriel Reyes Jr., a Marine who took part in the ceremony, the day marked more than just the chance to take part in a historic event.
After the ship was brought to life with its new crew, attention diverted to Reyes, who waited as Gen. James F. Amos, the 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps, walked over to the Marine detachment’s senior enlisted advisor, 1st Sgt. Leon M. Banta.
Reyes, a Santa Ana, Calif., native and school clerk for Headquarters and Support Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, stood in his dress blues and waited. The rank stitched to his sleeves would only be a part of his life for a few, short more minutes.
“First Sgt. Banta told me the day prior the commandant might promote me, and it made me really nervous,” said Reyes. “That night when we went out on liberty, I didn’t have any fun because all I did was practice my salute and make sure I was prepared for the promotion.”
A small formation of Marines assembled near where Reyes was standing. He waited at the position of attention as Banta began to read his promotion warrant.
The public slowly gathered around to watch as Banta started reading, “to all who shall see these presents, greeting.”
“When the civilians started to come over to watch and take pictures, I got stage fright,” said Reyes, who joined the Marine Corps less than two years ago. “It wasn’t an average promotion. The day was already big enough to me. The USS Somerset was just commissioned. It got bigger to me when I was promoted right after … just outside the ship.”
After Banta finished reading the promotion warrant, Amos told Reyes to raise his right hand and repeat the oath of enlistment.
“I was really motivated because he promoted me,” said Reyes. “I felt like I was re-enlisting again when the commandant told me to raise my right hand.”
To conclude the ceremony, the commandant leaned in and shook Reyes’ hand and gave him his personal challenge coin.
“I’m always going to carry the challenge coin he gave me to remember that day and the promotion because I know it doesn’t happen to everybody,” said now Lance Cpl. Reyes. “Just like the first sergeant told me, this is an opportunity of a lifetime.”
| Date Taken: | 03.01.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 03.05.2014 16:02 |
| Story ID: | 121536 |
| Location: | PHILADELPHIA, PA, US |
| Web Views: | 332 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
This work, Commandant of the Marine Corps promotes 2nd MLG Marine, by GySgt Devin Nichols, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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