Photo By Sgt. Brandon Maldonado | USS MAKIN ISLAND, Pacific Ocean (May 8, 2017) U.S. Marine Sgt. Marcus Chestnut...... read more read more
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From a long line of family members who’ve served in the military, the Chestnuts currently have six active duty service members, along with one DoD civilian contractor.
The Chestnut legacy is survived beyond just the blood in their veins; they take great pride in the military heritage that runs in their lineage.
“When we are able to get together, it feels good to be able to come to the family dinner table, hear everyone’s stories, as well as share my my own experiences, understanding of the Marine Corps, and what I have contributed and gained from it,” said Gunnery Sgt. Kevin B. Chestnut, who began his career in 1998 as a communications technician.
The Chestnuts took different career pathways within the Marine Corps, and family reunions at home are sparse because of military obligations, but the Marine Corps has always managed to reunite them one way or another.
Gunnery Sgt. Chestnut recalled one such occasion. “I remember I was in Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan in 2008. It was me; my brother, former Gunnery Sgt. Stanley Chestnut; and my cousin, then 1st Sgt. Marcus Chestnut. We were all on deployment together, crowded around a phone talking to my uncle, Sergeant Major Melvin Chestnut, who was in San Diego at the time. Even though we were in a combat situation, I was still surrounded by my family.”
Although the family is separated more often than not by their Marine Corps careers, these kinds of happenstances always manage to bring them back together.
GySgt. Chestnut, now finds himself on deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, serving as the communications maintenance chief, accompanied by his cousin, Sgt. Marcus Chestnut Jr., senior intelligence analyst with the MEU’s Battalion Landing Team, 1st Bn., 4th Marines.
Sgt. Chestnut is also the son of Sgt. Maj. Marcus Chestnut, the sergeant major of 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, located in California, where the 11th MEU will eventually return.
“During a deployment to Australia with BLT 1/4 in 2015, my dad also happened to be the battalion sergeant major at the time”, said Sgt. Marcus Chestnut. “What are the odds? I deployed with my father, and he deployed with his brothers. Now, here I am on deployment with my cousin. I love it though, because I know I can still go to him with my questions and my concerns, and I know that no matter what, I’ll always have family close by.”
Although the Chestnuts’ overall military history began when the late Joseph Chestnut, Sr. joined the Army during World War II, the family’s Marine Corps lineage all began when the late retired Sgt. Maj. Melvin O. Chestnut enlisted in 1994 as a rifleman, going on to become a drill instructor, and concluding his career as the sergeant major of Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 38.
Sgt. Maj. Melvin Chestnut passed away on Feb. 24, 2015. In his passing, he is remembered by the Chestnut family as a great American, family man, and Marine.
“[Sgt. Maj. Melvin Chestnut] came as a guest speaker for my [communication] chiefs’ course graduation at [Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms],” said Gunnery Sgt. Chestnut. “During his speech, I remember thinking ‘It makes me proud to be able to say that I have an uncle that has reached the rank of sergeant major and if he can do it, I can do it’.”
He set the standard for the Chestnut family to adhere to, whether serving in the military or not, added Sgt. Chestnut.
With more than 20 family members who either have served or are serving, and with the Sgt. Maj. Melvin Chestnut’s 30 years of service, the first man in his bloodline to become a Marine and an E-9, the Chestnut family has forever woven their legacy into the fabric of American history.
“I think service in the military was able to pull our family closer together,” said Sgt. Chestnut. “Through obstacles and troubling times, the Marine Corps allowed us to stay tighter as a family. Someone down my bloodline chose to join the Marines, and I thank them for that because of the great relationship that I have with my family.”
| Date Taken: | 03.23.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 06.12.2017 14:42 |
| Story ID: | 237534 |
| Location: | PACIFIC OCEAN |
| Web Views: | 513 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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