Posted on 08/11/2005 4:10:40 PM PDT by SandRat
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Aug. 11, 2005) -- “I felt bad about the fact that there were Marines who have been over here two or three times and I had never been here once,” said the II Marine Expeditionary Force, Headquarters Group, II MEF (Forward), Marine. “I wanted the chance to come out here and serve the Marine Corps and do what I was trained to do.”
Corporal Daniel H. Williams, 21, the Marine Integrated Maintenance Management System noncommissioned officer-in-charge at the II MHG Motor Transportation Maintenance garage, was activated from his reserve unit, 4th Maintenance Battalion, 4th Force Service Support Group, based in his native city of Sacramento, Calif., in late February in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“I was in Coronado, Calif., at the Marine Combat Instructor Water Survival School when I got a call from my commanding officer and he told me I was getting activated,” he said. “After I graduated from the school I got the weekend off and I was activated two days later on February 25.”
Williams’ desire to serve his country has been a long held ambition instilled in him at a young age. Now, as he finds himself deployed here, he has realized a dream.
During his senior year in 2001 at Jesuit High School, in Carmichael, Calif., Williams decided to take a different path than most of his peers. Although he had a desire to become a Marine Corps officer he decided to first become an enlisted Marine while attending classes at California State University, Sacramento.
“I didn’t really know much about the Marine Corps until my senior year of high school,” said Williams, who has served in the Corps for more than four years. “Once I learned more about the traditions I realized they were the best. If I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it all the way. I wanted to be a part of the best.”
Entering the Delayed Entry Program April 13, 2001, and shipping to boot camp three days after his high school graduation, Williams was in a hurry to become a Marine as soon as possible, he said.
Williams arrived at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., in March with a group of more than 100 reservists from around the country to conduct predeployment training.
Since arriving in Iraq April 1, Williams has played a vital role within II MHG’s Motor Transportation Maintenance Office.
He tracks all vehicles inducted in the maintenance cycle, reconciles and validates with supply for all parts and tools that are on order for vechicles, and also tracks vehicles for the armoring program.
“We do the uparmoring for most of the vehicles on Camp Fallujah,” said Williams. “We make sure the vehicles get the ballistic glass, hardened door and armored undercarriages. I think it’s important because they help protect Marines from IED’s [improvised explosive devices] and small-arms fire.”
Williams also goes on convoys to Baghdad International Airport for resupply runs and Camp Taqaddum for armor runs and to see how they operate their armoring program.
When Williams returns home he plans on spending a lot of time with family and friends, and returning to school to finish his degree in criminal justice.
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MARINE PING!
BTTT!!!!!!
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