Previously Held MOS 1100-Basic Utilities Marine
6241-Aircraft Electronics Systems Technician Trainee
6251-Avionics Technician
6242-Aircraft Electronic Systems Technician, Transport & Helicopter
6199-Enlisted Aircrew/Aerial Observer/Gunner
6632-Aircraft Electrical Systems Technician - Helicopter/OV-10
Volunteer with Huntington Beach Police and Fire Dept.
Other Comments:
FCC Amateur Radio call sign KG6IQL
Crossed Equator 730121 Lat. 00.00 Long 106.36 Aboard USS New Orleans, LPH-11. Initiated ancient order of the deep shellback.
"A Fire Team is composed of 3 Marines and their leader. 3 Fire Teams make a squad. 3 Squads make a platoon. 3 platoons, a company. And so on, and so on. All the way up to an entire division. But it all starts with one Marine".
Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron (HMR) 261, the "Raging Bulls", was activated on 5 April, 1951 at MCAS Cherry Point, N.C. Throughout its history, the squadron has carried the tail code of "EM" on its aircraft.
In 1954, the squadron moved from MCAS Cherry Point to its current home, MCAS New River, North Carolina. In October 1954, HMR-261 embarked its HRS helicopters on the USS Saipan (CVL-48) and sailed for Haiti where they flew humanitarian assistance/disaster relief missions following Hurricane Hazel. In 1956, the squadron was redesignated Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron (Light) 261 (HMR(L)-261) to reflect the acquisition of the H-34 Choctaw to replace its HRS-1 helicopters. The squadron was the first helicopter squadron to conduct troop lifts on the East coast. In 1961, the squadron was redesignated Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261 (HMM-261). The squadron was, by then, flying the UH-34D helicopter. During 1962, HMM-261 was embarked aboard the USS Boxer (CV-21) and subsequently the USS Thetis Bay (CVE-90) for support during the Cuban Blockade. Returning to MCAF New River, HMM 261 was deployed to the southern United States during the Civil Rights Movement to support freedom marches in the spring of 1963. Returning to MAG-26, MCAF New River, HMM-261 prepared to stand down for subsequent transfer of its colors to the Western Pacific.
