Photo By Cpl. Joshua Grant | Patrick McCoy scans groceries at the Marine Base Corps Camp Lejeune's commissary. In...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- As Patrick McCoy scans products into the cash register at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune’s commissary, it may surprise his customers to learn the nearly 80-year-old cashier served under Marine Corps legend Chesty Puller and trudged through the jungles of Vietnam.
McCoy was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and began his pursuit of his love for music after high school. As part of a singing trio, McCoy and two of his friends toured his local area and also played for Korean War veterans at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
To explore the possibilities and avoid the draft, McCoy chose to enlist in the Marine Corps. Two weeks after speaking to his recruiter, he was on his way to boot camp on Aug. 3, 1953.
“Back then I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I was 19 and many of my friends younger than me were getting drafted,” said McCoy.
McCoy spent a short time as a wireman and radio operator but was later assigned as a teletype crypto technician to transmit secure messages, where he would stay the rest of his career.
“I spent many of my years here aboard Lejeune,” said McCoy. “I had a few short years at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and six tours to Okinawa, but the majority of my time was here and I loved it.”
His career in the Marine Corps lasted 28 years including a deployment to Vietnam.
Throughout his long career McCoy said he served with many influential leaders and Marines.
“Chesty Puller was the commanding officer when I was first stationed here,” said McCoy. “He was strict in his leadership, but also fair. He was one of the best leaders I have ever served under.”
McCoy said, many of the leadership traits he learned from Puller carried on throughout his career and into his civilian life afterward.
“I learned if you’re told to do something the right way, you make sure it gets done right,” said McCoy. “I still hold true to that in my work today.”
McCoy, known to his friends and colleagues as PJ, has been working at the commissary aboard Camp Lejeune for 19 years. He began work aboard the base again in 1995 at the age of 61.
“I have seen many of my friends retire completely and they just sit around, or are not with us anymore,” said McCoy. “I keep working to keep myself busy, but also because I’m proud to come back here to continue to serve the Marine Corps.”
Even after some physical ailments and time spent away from work, McCoy believes he is a valued employee.
“I try to get the customers out as quickly as possible,” said McCoy. “Shopping shouldn’t be a chore, I try to treat my customers with respect.”
Steven Wilson, supervisory store associate with the commissary aboard Camp Lejeune, said working with McCoy for almost 19 years has been a great experience.
“He works hard at what he does, but he doesn’t try to gain attention for it,” said Wilson. “He is still so dedicated to the Marine Corps, he tries to make you laugh if you end up at his register.”
McCoy recently celebrated his 80th birthday June 6.
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| Date Taken: | 06.12.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 07.09.2014 12:15 |
| Story ID: | 135621 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 131 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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