NAVAL AIR STATION AND JOINT RESERVE BASE FORT WORTH, Texas - The 8th Marine Corps District awarded Sgt. Darlissa Leatherwood with Marine of the Year honors for fiscal year 2013, during the unit’s Marine Corps birthday celebration, Nov. 16 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Spa in Grapevine, Texas.
The award, along with a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, came to Leatherwood for her significant contributions to the district, serving more than 800 Marines as the legal chief and as a routine volunteer for district-wide functions.
The Memphis, Tenn. native, who was named Marine of the quarter earlier in the year, described her joy in achieving this even more prestigious title.
“I feel like the hard work I’ve done since I’ve gotten here, and volunteering for things, has paid off,” Leatherwood said. “Just knowing that people appreciate what I’ve done was enough, but (winning), especially as a Marine, makes you feel good on the inside.”
Her superiors felt no surprise, according to Staff Sgt. Bianca Nuño, district adjutant chief and Leatherwood’s staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge. Nuño described Leatherwood as an “all-around stellar Marine” who is knowledgeable, diligent and puts others before herself.
“She prepares things ahead of time knowing that it’s going to come down the line eventually,” said Nuño. “She tries to maintain her volunteering and well as her work and everything else she has to deal with; she volunteers a lot of her time.”