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Marine Pfc. Dakota Stewart, right, who had just graduated from recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, poses for a photo with Keith McDaniel, left, the chief strategist of WindRiver Strategies, in the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Nov. 15, 2019. Stewart, an 18-year old native of Chicago, comes from a proud family tradition of military service which includes her own mother, who also served in the Marine Corps. McDaniel struck up a conversation with Stewart while waiting for a flight, and learned she had not only graduated just hours earlier, but that she had joined on an infantry contract. He and some friends asked her why she chose that route.
“I want to be like the other trailblazing women who have earned their place in the infantry and serve my country as a rifleman,” Stewart replied. Many other passengers listened intently to her story as she explained her background.
When the airline called for active duty military members to board early, the terminal erupted in a standing ovation, with cheers and claps all around.
The young Marine made her way to the rear of the plane and waited for the other passengers to board. Instead, moments later, McDaniel walked to her seat and let her know that her seat had been upgraded and she needed to come with him. He had given her his first-class seat and would instead be occupying hers.
Stewart will be home visiting family and friends on leave before reporting to the School of Infantry for follow-on training.
| Date Taken: | 11.15.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 11.16.2019 08:19 |
| Photo ID: | 5915952 |
| VIRIN: | 191115-M-GU623-001 |
| Resolution: | 2195x3894 |
| Size: | 832.18 KB |
| Location: | US |
| Hometown: | CHICAGO, IL, US |
| Web Views: | 94 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
This work, Newly-graduated Chicago Marine lauded at airport, by MSgt Justin Kronenberg, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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