10,409 miles, 6,500 gallons, 11 days, 10 islands and nine people. Add up the numbers and it equals a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Marines here embarked on the 11-day expedition Aug. 3 to various locations across the Pacific to commemorate the Marine Corps 67th anniversary of World War II’s Guadalcanal campaign.
The nine Marines were able to witness and experience firsthand what was left of seven historic battle sites, including Saipan, Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Peleliu, Guam and Iwo- Jima.
“It was a great opportunity to do this,” said Lt. Col. Tray J. Ardese, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron commanding officer here.
Ardese along with Capt. Raymond J. Scott, H&HS Marine Transport Squadron Detachment officer in charge and aircraft safety officer, served as crew for the C-12 they flew from island to island.
“The most moving experience of the trip was Guadalcanal,” said Ardese. “It’s the first amphibious landing.”
The Marines wore their dress blue deltas for the 67th anniversary ceremony at Guadalcanal. For the rest of the trip they were in regular civilian attire for comfortable hiking.
“There was tons of hiking. It was hot, humid and nasty, and everybody did really well,” said Ardese.
Along with every hike was a professional military education class on the island and what took place.
“We talked about the land and the historical value of each site,” said Sgt. Adam Kruse, one of three sergeants who won a seat on the 11-day trip.
Ardese held a brutal multiday Bring Out Your Champions Challenge for the H&HS Marines to earn a seat.
“My criteria I laid out to those Marines was, they had to be an outstanding Marine, a career Marine, meaning at least reenlisted one time, and had to be physically fit to make all PME,” said Ardese.
Ardese also said he would like for the island-hopping trip to become an annual event.
However, his tenure will be up next year, and the decision will be up to the next commanding officer.
“We don’t own our uniforms,” said Sgt. Maj. Ronald Halcovich, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225 sergeant major. “The uniforms we wear are owned by the Marines that came before us.”
Halcovich has served in the Marine Corps for 23 years and has never had an opportunity as unique as this one.
“This trip was like returning to your family’s homeland,” said Halcovich. “Every island we went to I couldn’t help but think about all the Marines that fought and lost their lives on those beaches. I mean, come on, when you think about Guam, Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Saipan, Peleliu and Guadalcanal you can’t help but imagine what it must have been like to storm those beaches. Let me just say I was fortunate enough to go on this trip, but for all the Marines that didn’t go, I still encourage them to read and learn about their Marines Corps history so that those Marines that sacrificed so much in the past can live forever in the future.”
The tours, hikes and jet-setting are over, but the memory of the trip will live on.
The Marines now have their own stories to share, but more importantly they have those of others.
Their new knowledge of the past can help today’s Marines better understand what it means to proudly claim the title of United States Marine.