Photo By Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde | Corporal Ryan Wilson, from McMinnville, Ore., was born in England while his father was...... read more read more
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CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Afghanistan – America has earned a reputation as the land of opportunity, a melting pot where people from all backgrounds can live and work together in harmony. The Marine Corps draws strength from this diversity by uniting men and women of varying ethnic, social, economic and religious backgrounds from across the nation, even the planet, to work together to accomplish a common goal.
Marines at Romeo Battery’s 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, Fire Direction Center provide just one example of the thousands of men and women of different backgrounds working together in Afghanistan to accomplish their mission. The FDC coordinates High Mobility Artillery Rocket System requests to support units in the area, and three of four Marines who work the center’s day shift were born outside of the United States.
Cpl. Ryan Wilson of McMinnville, Ore.; Lance Cpl. Chase Allen, from Indianapolis; and Lance Cpl. Steven Makepeace, from Baden, Pa.; were born in England, Latvia and Russia, respectively, and immigrated to the United States as children.
Wilson’s father was stationed with the Marine Corps in England when he was born, and his family moved to California when he was about four.
“From what I remember, [England] was a lot different [from America],” said Wilson, 21. People obviously drive on the other side of the road – one of the things I noticed. The cars were a lot bigger in America; roads were a lot thinner in England.
“Going from one lifestyle to another, the way the Brits live and the way Americans live, it was a little different, but it wasn’t too hard to adjust,” added Wilson, a field radio operator. “It was definitely weird going from a really rainy, cloudy place all the time to sunny, really hot all the time.”
Allen, a fire direction control man, and Makepeace, a field radio operator, lived at orphanages in their native countries before being adopted by American parents.
“I was put in an orphanage when I was 5,” said the 24-year-old Allen. “I remember there were a lot of birch trees because every month or so, when we got haircuts, they would take us to the [playground]. Right next to the playground out back, there were a lot of birch trees. They would shave our heads – I guess it was to control the lice or something.”
“I don’t really remember Russia, itself, but I do remember leaving, specifically,” said Makepeace, 21. “I remember the airplane ride back [to the United States]. [It was] small and had a little television.”
The FDC Marines embrace each others’ backgrounds and sometimes share a laugh about their unique situation.
“It’s kind of funny how we ended up getting the same shift, being in the same unit and actually being in the same little circle,” said Wilson, who graduated from McMinnville High School. “All these guys I [work] with are really cool – we all look out for each other.”
Wilson, Allen and Makepeace have all changed their lives by enlisting in the Marine Corps as young adults and dedicating themselves to serving the American people. Allen and Makepeace, especially, went from having almost no futures as orphans to earning the title of Marine and joining the tight-knit family that is the Marine Corps. Wilson joined to find direction in life at the advice of his father.
“The biggest influence was my dad,” said Wilson. He told me that joining the Marine Corps would make me experienced and understand life a lot better – give me an early grasp of what I want out of life. He said the Marine Corps would help me find out what I wanted – and it has.”
Different factors caused each of the Marines to serve for different reasons, but they all wanted to give back to the country that has given so much opportunity to them. They all come from different backgrounds but share the Marine Corps as their common bond. These Marines are happy to work together every day, as brothers.
“It’s definitely cool [to see] that people from different countries actually want to come to our country and then say, ‘I want to serve – I want to do something for what this country has done for me,’” said Wilson.
Romeo Battery is currently assigned to 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), which heads Task Force Leatherneck. The task force serves as the ground combat element of Regional Command (Southwest) and works in partnership with the Afghan National Security Force and the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces and enabling ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its area of operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.
| Date Taken: | 09.13.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 09.13.2011 14:22 |
| Story ID: | 76958 |
| Location: | CAMP LEATHERNECK, HELMAND PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 242 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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