Photo By Cpl. Jacob A. Singsank | Gunnery Sgt. Clifford J. Williford, the staff non-commissioned officer in charge of...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Three staff non-commissioned officers within 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, have been nominated to receive awards for their leadership by the Marine Corps Engineer Association at the annual awards banquet in Las Vegas, Oct. 14.
The Marine Corps Engineer Association works in conjunction with Headquarters Marine Corps to recognize and honor outstanding leadership and achievements of individual Marines within the engineer related fields.
Gunnery Sgt. Serjio C. Gonzales, the platoon commander with Operations Platoon, 1st Bulk Fuel Company, 7th ESB, 1st MLG was nominated for bulk fuel staff non-commissioned officer of the year.
"It was a shock when I found out I won the award because I felt like I just did my job," said Gonzales, 36, from Gridley, Calif. "It really boils down to my Marines, coworkers and leaders; it's through their diligence, work and leadership that I won this award."
While deployed to Iraq, Gonzales operated security teams to provide protection for convoys. Many of the Marines he worked with recognized his personal commitment to his troops.
"Gunny Gonzales always kept in mind his junior Marines by putting them first before himself," said Cpl. Michael D. Linn, a bulk fuel specialist with Bulk Fuel Company. "Whenever a mission came down the pipe, he would inform the troops in a timely matter and made sure they had everything for their welfare and the mission."
Linn, 23, from St. Cloud, Minn., stated that Gonzales would visit with Marines in Iraq about their families and personal problems to make sure there wasn't anything wrong. If there was, he would do what he could to help fix the problem.
Gunnery Sgt. Clifford J. Williford, the staff non-commissioned officer in charge of Operations Platoon, Company C, 7th ESB, 1st MLG also cares greatly about the health and welfare of his troops. Williford, 33, from Dorris, Calif., was nominated for Engineer Staff Non-commissioned Officer of the Year.
"It's an honor to receive this award," Williford said. "My Marines are the ones who made me look good by working their tails off while deployed and back here in garrison."
Williford planned and supervised missions during his deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He added that his Marines got every job done successfully by not missing a timeline.
"During missions in Iraq, Gunny Williford would constantly be on the move, never taking a break," said Sgt. Mario Munoz, a heavy equipment mechanic with Engineer Equipment Platoon, Support Company, 7th ESB, 1st MLG.
Munoz, 31, from Paramount, Calif., stated that Williford got down and dirty and helped pull out Hesco barriers. He would also be teaching his Marines information about the job to be more proficient.
"Gunny Williford would also push us to test and know our limits and pass knowledge on to the junior Marines," said Lance Cpl. Marco A. Martinez, 23, from San Antonio, a heavy equipment dispatcher with Engineer Equipment Platoon, Support Company, 7th ESB, 1st MLG. "He taught me how to better communicate with heavy equipment operators when ground guiding them."
Staff Sgt. Stephen H. Kuester, an Urbana, Ohio, native, has been recognized for his leadership abilities by the Marine Corps Engineer Association. He has been named the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit Technician of the Year.
"I was surprised when I heard I won the award because I never thought this would happen to me," said Kuester, 30, platoon sergeant for EOD Company, 1st Marine Logistics Group. "It's an honor to be the EOD Tech of the Year."
"He's a really good guy and a very solid staff [non-commissioned officer]," said Staff Sgt. Clayton Rue, Explosives Ordnance Disposal technician with EOD Company, 7th ESB, 1st MLG. "You probably won't find someone [who will] work harder."
| Date Taken: | 07.08.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 07.14.2009 15:46 |
| Story ID: | 36380 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 401 |
| Downloads: | 199 |
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