Photo By Cpl. Christian Ayers | Joseph Houle, a retired U. S. Marine Corps sergeant major, poses for a photo at the...... read more read more
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When Joseph Houle was a young boy, he would attend a Veterans Day parade every year in his hometown of Dolgeville, New York.
Houle, a retired U.S. Marine Corps sergeant major, recounted childhood memories of attending the Veterans Day parades and visiting his relatives at the local cemetery who had served in previous wars.
“The visits to the veteran tributes were extremely memorable,” Houle said. “They inspired me to dedicate my life to the Marine Corps and my country.”
Houle joined the Marine Corps on March 27, 1964, and then was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune as a rifleman.
In 1966, Houle deployed to Vietnam for combat operations. Houle faced many physical and emotional challenges while on deployment.
“When my machine gunner and A-gunner got hit, the corpsman and I left our positions to help,” Houle said. “I got hit on the left shoulder with shrapnel and was medically evacuated to the hospital, where I spent five days recovering before going back into the field to continue combat with my brothers.”
In 1967, newly promoted Sgt. Houle was hit in the left leg during a search and destroy mission and on the same day, he was hit in the right leg.
Houle was awarded a purple heart for his injuries sustained in the Vietnam War in 1968. Houle joined the Marine Corps reserves that same year and was promoted to staff sergeant before receiving an honorable discharge in 1970.
Houle felt a continued connection to the organization and his brothers and sisters in arms that he wanted to continue to work alongside them. “I came back into the Marine Corps, because I thought that if I could save one Marine’s life with my experiences then it was worth coming back,” Houle said. “I missed the camaraderie that Marines had then and still have today.”
Upon his re-entry in 1974, Houle was a private first class with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, where he was given orders back to Vietnam. He quickly made his way back up through the ranks, and two years later was promoted to staff sergeant while in Okinawa, Japan. After a year in Okinawa, Houle received orders to become a drill instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina in 1977.
“Houle was one of the best men that I have ever had the pleasure of working with,” said Sam Bright, a former U.S. Army food service specialist who served alongside Houle. “He was always respectful, punctual and if he was able to lend a hand in any situation, you know you could depend on him to be there when trouble called.”
Houle was promoted to gunnery sergeant in 1980 before being sent to train the British Royal Marines in 1982. He was then sent to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment where he was promoted to first sergeant.
In 1989, Houle was selected to serve as the sergeant major of 2nd Maintenance Battalion, the unit he led into Operation Desert Storm in Kuwait.
“My most memorable and proudest moment in my life was getting promoted to sergeant major,” Houle said. “When the commanding general asked who I would like to place my chevrons on, I was proud to answer that I wanted my two boys to pin me.”
After serving ten years as a sergeant major, Houle retired in November of 2000. After 32 years of dedicated service, Houle still finds ways to give back to the veteran and active duty community.
“He has been retired for some time, but he never stops serving,” said Ashely Danielson, executive director for the Carolina Museum of the Marine in Jacksonville. “If I had to choose someone who was the perfect Marine, I would choose Sgt. Maj. Houle because his commitment to service was above and beyond when he was active service, which is why he was and still is an amazing sergeant major.”
Every year Houle helps with the Veterans Day parade in Jacksonville by providing meals for the veterans and active duty service members. According to Houle, it is important to thank and honor those who have previously served and those that still serve today.
After the construction of the Carolina Museum of the Marine in 2020, Houle has been working as the director of operations. In addition, Houle has worked for the Marine Corps League since his retirement.
“We need to recognize the sacrifices that our veterans and our active duty have made and the work that they do for this country,” said Houle. “If it hadn’t been for those who went before me to defend our nation, it wouldn’t be as great as it is today.”
| Date Taken: | 11.02.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 11.06.2020 14:40 |
| Story ID: | 382504 |
| Location: | JACKSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 930 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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