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An up close and personal interview with U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
Cpl Claudio Gil U.S. Marine Corps (1983-1989)
PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE MARINE CORPS?
As a boy I was fascinated by WWII movies with John Wayne, particularly the Marine based movies like Iwo Jima. I would also spend hours on end playing with toy soldiers or playing war games with my friends when at the park. As a teenager my friend Luis Diaz and
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| Cadet Corp 1981 |
I came up with an idea to create our own cadet corp. Our uniforms were a combination of Army, Navy and Marines, (as seen in the pic). We trained from books we obtained from an Army National Guard base that was located across the street from where I lived. Surprisingly my unit beat out an actual cadet unit during a drill exercise. This motivated me even more about the military world.
When I was nearing my high school graduation, my friend Luis once again approached me, but this time to join the Marine Corps. I was hesitant at first, since I was more interested in following a career in computers. He would convince me to come to the recruiting station and just check it out, I didn't have to sign anything. What really influenced me was the day I went to the recruiting station that had all the branches in it. I immediately noticed the Marine recruiter had 10 people in his office while all the other branches had little or no recruits at all. This recruiter then gathered everyone every weekend and had us doing PT in formation. I grew more and more interested with being a Marine than being a programmer.
Signing up turned into an obstacle course, with my parents being the obstacles that I needed to hurdle in order to reach my goal. They didn't make it easy for me so I asked my Recruiter for help. He came to my home and spoke with them, but my mother was a staunch wall of "NO, NO and NO" with each thing my recruiter offered. That was until he mentioned the word RESERVES and COLLEGE all in one sentence. This got her attention. After a few minutes describing what reserve duty entails and how I would be able to attend college while serving, she accepted and I was able to join the Corps.
WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
When I joined I went straight for grunt service in the reserves. This was a decision that I felt was the right fit for me. The recruiter wasn't sure it was right for me since I was skinny and underweight, but that didn't stop me. It did cross my mind
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| Infantry Training School |
that I have gone over my head when I met my DIs, but our Senior DI, SSGT Gonzalez, had faith in all of us and asked us to stay. That request was what made me tough it out to the end. When I graduated in Parris Island I personally thanked him for making me a Marine. I would later arrive at Camp Geiger, NC to begin my infantry training as an 0311. It was hard training, but I was loving every minute, that I was out on the field with my brothers. It's not something I can easily explain in words, but I enjoyed being an infantryman more than anything in the world. SSGT Otero, my platoon leader, liked my energy. He still found me too skinny for the job, but had faith enough in my ability to make me a squad leader during my training. With his guidance I learned to lead in stressful situations. During our 3 day war against another platoon it was my squad that lead us to victory. First, we had a successful raid of the opposing base camp, then we defended our base on two raid attempts. Both resulting in enemy capture. Finally, we defended against the remaining platoon as they came to reclaim their POWs only to lose the battle outright. I would later join my reserve unit in NY and sign up for college to take up programming as a major. It was the best of both worlds.
My decision to leave the Corps came when I was getting ready to graduate college to enter the computer field in my civilian life. I had already acquired a job with NASA at a science facility near Columbia University. It was now time to move on to the next phase of my life. I didn't want to leave, but it was difficult enough finding work while still serving. In order to obtain this job I had to be full time. I thank the Corps though for my leadership training skills because I entered that NASA job as a trainee and eight months later I was the 1st shift lead. Managers were stunned to see this because it had never happened before.
IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TO YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY.
The most significant thing I remember was participating in a Marine Corps Ball event in upstate NY for veteran Marines. I helped our armorer with the display and proper firing of the weapons we were using at that time to our WWII, Korea and Vietnam era veterans. Most of these
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| Meeting the Commandant |
elder Marines were still hitting the target with the newer weapons. Later that afternoon I had the pleasure of watching the Marine Corps Silent Drill Team as they performed for the veterans on the parade deck. This was followed by the Marine Corps Band, aka The President's Own, as they played for the vets. As they were concluding their music there was a missing man helicopter formation that flew overhead, which ended with one of them landing on the parade deck and producing none other than the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Al Gray. When the festivities went indoor is when the Marine Corps Ball ceremonies began. One of the vets approached me and said the SGTMAJ of the Marine Corps was looking for me. I couldn't have imagined what happened next. I turned out to be the youngest Marine there at age 21 and received the cake from the Commandant himself. As he handed me the cake he asked about my left arm, then promptly sealed the deal with his patented punch to my right arm. It was an unforgettable moment for me. While there I got to meet many interesting and well decorated Marines. I met several with Silver Stars and one with a Medal of Honor. I offered to buy him a drink and he ended up buying me two. I was starstruck at this Marine Ball and have yet to be in another like it.
OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH ONE WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
My most favorite post during my time with the Corp came in 1985 when our unit went to Panama for Jungle Training. Being Latino gave me an advantage over my comrades because I not only knew the dialect of the people, I also knew what foods were available out in
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| Foxhole defense, 29 Palms, CA |
the jungle course. Our CO quoted 4 words that we would apply to our training and they were "Swift, Silent and Deadly". Using these words as our mantra had immediate results. The Army trainers could not stop saying OUTSTANDING with every mission we completed. We did everything they asked in the compass course, jungle missions, offshore approach, (both swim and rubber boat launch and assaults). Even more shocking for them was when they discovered towards the end of our training that we were a reserve unit.
Funny incident happened on one of our missions through the Jungle. Our Platoon Guide tagged along to see how we were able to hit all of our mapped targets so well. During this outing it rained on us just prior to climbing a hill. It was now covered in mud. Our squad leader made the first attempt at climbing and was not successful, he kept sliding back down to the base of the hill. The guide took a stab at it by using a log, but he only got half way up the hill before he started slipping back to the log. I laughed and shook my head as I watched this spectacle of two leaders slipping up and down this hill. I was a fire team leader and my team then asked what I knew that the others didn't know. I pointed at the plants on the hillside and said, plants have roots, so they aren't going anywhere. Step on the plants to reach the top. I then lead the way and when we reached the top I called down to the squad leader and guide, "Are you done playing in the mud? We need to finish this mission". The muddy looks on their faces was worthy of a grand prize.
My least favorite had to be my last trip to CAX desert ops in 29 Palms in 1987. By now I was filling the post of Platoon Guide while still ranking as a CPL. We were short staffed in my platoon with 22 men total and only 8 of them being LCPL or below. We struggled to accomplish the simplest tasks because we lacked sleep and were overworked, but like all Marines, we survived and met all our mission goals with high marks. We practically slept through our R&R on this trip, so there wasn't much fun for us to report that year.
FROM YOUR ENTIRE SERVICE, INCLUDING COMBAT, DESCRIBE THE PERSONAL MEMORIES WHICH HAVE IMPACTED YOU MOST?
That would be the day one of my comrades, LCPL Jackson, got injured during one of our Jungle Training exercises. We were given our map, compass and only water. Our instructions were to traverse the jungle from Panama Canal back to Fort Sherman on foot. The mission was just starting
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| Jungle Training, Fort Sherman, Panama |
when he cut his leg with the machete while pulling point man duty. The rusty blade bounced off a tree branch as he tried to cut a path and it landed on the chin of his right leg.
We called in to have him removed, but were denied. Our simple compass course mission now turned into a mission of health. The entire squad made sure his bandage was clean at all times and if it got wet we replaced it. When we reached the point of our course that was a swamp we all worked together to carry him across so he would stay dry. LCPL Wilson was a 6ft 6, 250 pound football player when not in reserve duty. He carried LCPL Jackson through the swamp while the rest of us took on the extra backpacks, cartridge belts and weapons. We were commended for our teamwork in keeping Jackson healthy during that mission because he did not get an infection after returning to base.
WHAT ACHIEVEMENT(S) ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER? IF YOU RECEIVED ANY MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS OR QUALIFICATION BADGES FOR SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT OR VALOR, PLEASE DESCRIBE HOW THESE WERE EARNED.
My proudest achievement was getting pistol expert. This was my first qualification on the pistol range and also my first time handling a Beretta 9 mm. We fired from various distances of 50, 25, 10 and 5 yds. I was able to hit my target with every shot. During qualifications Lt Cole, my commanding officer for 2nd Platoon, was watching my progress and wanted to see how I would fair against others in a rapid fire competition. So he made a wager with the other Platoon Commanders to place their best men against each other to see who the top shooter is. He chose me to represent 2nd Platoon. Using 2 mags with 5 rounds each at a distance of 25 yards I placed all 10 rounds into a tight 2 inch hole. When Lt Cole saw this he stated he wanted me as his bodyguard if he ever made Colonel. I turned out to be the winner of that match having the tightest grouping.
My other proud achievement was when I became Platoon Guide. As 3rd in command I learned more about leadership and trust. The men had to trust that I would take them where they needed to go or show them what they needed to do whenever the Platoon Sgt or Platoon Commander were not present. I constantly checked on the men before, during and after missions to ensure that everything was ok. On two separate occasions I found men in need of medical attention, but were remaining quiet because they didn't want to go with the Corpman to see a doctor.
OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR ANY OTHER MEMORABILIA, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH ARE THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
The most meaningful badge I received was the Jungle Training badge from Panama. Our unit had to squeeze a 3 week jungle course into two weeks and to do so required many long hours of hard work and little sleep. Training consisted of Company size, Platoon size and Squad sized missions including a jungle obstacle course that required us to run along the coastline during low tide. At the time of this mission I was a fire team leader in 2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon. PFC Dumaguing and I were the pacers, LCPL Jackson was our point man and our Squad Leader, whose name escapes me, was our compass man. This team of men were very good with the compass course. My squad hit every mission goal and lead our platoon to every target without fail. Our Army Trainers were very impressed with our accuracy in finding our locations on the map and how quiet we were throughout the mission. To be Swift, Silent and Deadly during our training we had decided on never using our ponchos during the rain. We were already wet from going through swamps and streams so it made sense not to use the poncho when it rained. By doing this simple thing we were extremely quiet on all approaches through the jungle.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
That would have to be SSgt. Yves Poitevien, my platoon Sgt. He lead our platoon with poise and honor. When I became the Platoon Guide he trained me on my duties as a 3rd level leader, basically preparing me to become a Platoon Sgt if the opportunity should ever arise.
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| SSGT Y. Poitevien |
He was very respected by the entire platoon because he cared about our welfare and made sure we received the best possible training no matter where we went. One prime example of his leadership was in Camp Lejeune, NC when we were training on house to house fighting. His job outside of the Marine Corp was as a NYC Police Officer. He used that police training to show us how to enter and clear rooms and how to approach entry ways properly. We used that training during a combat scenario against the other platoons in our company. This gave us the advantage over other units because we had a leader who specialized in this type of mission.
My next influence came from SSGT Gonzalez, my SDI in bootcamp. He was tough, harsh at times, but fair. When an incident involving me surfaced, he saw to it that the platoon understood what really happened. During one of our rifle week snap in sessions I had asked a question that was considered inadequate. (I had asked if we received trophies for being best in rifle week). I was promptly PTd by my SDI. Later that same day the entire platoon was sent to the pit and this caused a number of recruits to assume it had something to do with me. One recruit wanted to fight, but I talked him out of it. He then threatened to follow up with his threat if I did not leave the platoon. I mentioned this to my SDI and he defended me. He explained why the platoon was sent to the pit and the real reason was for rust on all but 3 weapons. I happened to have one of three that was clean. If not for his fair handed defense of my reputation I would have either transferred to another unit to graduate late or dropped out.
CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Incident occurred in Parris Island during chow hall duty. At this stage of recruit training we were assigned to work at B Co. chow hall. During the evening hours there were firewatch patrols that walked around the chow hall as part of their 1st phase duties. One of our recruits
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| Getting chewed out by a DI |
was very good at imitating a DI, so as a joke he borrowed the echelons of two squad leaders and put them on his blouse. He stepped outside and started picking on a firewatch that patrolled the area. It was hilarious to watch a recruit drill another recruit UNTIL our real DI appeared. He wanted to know why a Marine (who was not wearing a DI hat) was hounding a recruit. When he realized it was a recruit in disguise that's when the fun really got started. Needless to say the imitator had a rough couple of hours after that.
This incident occurred in Lakehurst, NJ on a freezing wintry day. We were issued 10 man tents and candles to keep us warm on a 32 below zero weekend. It was difficult to stand at attention for more than 30 seconds in this weather and the commanders were getting flustered at the fact that no one wanted to do any field training. To tell the truth we were ill equipped to deal with the low temps for that training. What I found so funny now and not then, was watching all ten Marines huddled around two candles with outstretched hands, as if it were some kind of camp fire. At 32 below it wasn't funny, but looking at it hindsight we looked rather silly.
WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
After my career in the Corp I entered the technology field as a computer operator. My first computer job came as a computer operator for NASA/GISS in NYC. I started as an entry level tech and quickly moved up to 1st shift supervisor of operations. My manager was impressed with
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| Kronos Technical Support Engineer |
my leadership skills and ability to follow orders (all learned while in the Corp). I would be the first and only tech to ever be promoted to shift leader in only 8 months. No other tech had accomplished that upward move in such a short period of time.
My attention to detail and documentation of my procedures helped make the data center more organized and kept everyone on the same page. This made us more reliable because everyone knew what to do when I was not around. From NASA I moved on to American Banker where my operations duty grew more impressive. I did not get a supervisor post, but did prove to be the best operator because I learned to run all 5 different systems that the company had. No other worker could manage all 5 systems. In 1992 I was laid off from American Banker and would later move to Florida where I restarted my career as a helpdesk support representative for Lockheed Martin. I transitioned from mainframe support to desktop support and excelled in this department as well. Today I work in the Cloud Alert Response Team for Kronos, a Time and Attendance software giant. I still use my Marine Corps experience in all I do even today. My leadership skills and organized work habits as well as my ability to train others has helped improve my workspace, I can't imagine what life would be like if I had not joined the Corps when I graduated High School.
WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I belong to the USMC Together We Served Web Site and recently started supporting the Wounded Warrior Project. When I was in the service I was told, "Leave no man behind". Well this concept holds true for this organization. The men and women who served and returned wounded, both physically and mentally, need our help to return to a somewhat normal life here at home. It doesn't matter that they are here amongst us, PTSD mentally keeps them abroad and it's our duty to help them better themselves. Though I never participated in any wars, it would be an oversight on my part to not help those who have. These men a women are now my bretheren and as family they need our help to return to an active lifestyle in our community.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER?
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| Surround youreslf with like-minded Warriors. |
Oh wow, where do I begin. When I joined the Marine Corp I thought I was only going to learn how to be a warrior. What I discovered was a lot more than that. Using the acronym of MARINE I learned to be: M - Motivated in all that I do; A - Actively participate with learning and training, R - Respect those around me and expect the same in return; I - Initiative in doing my job without the need for supervision; N - Never leave my post until the work is done or properly handed over to next shift; E - Exemplify professionalism in everything I do; This format applies to all, not just Marines, but to me it really drives it home knowing where I got it from.
BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE MARINE CORPS?
The Marine Corps is not just a branch of the US Armed Services, it's a brotherhood. You will always hear SEMPER FI coming from a veteran when they see you. With the Corps you not only learn to be excellent at what you do while you are in, this learning
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| USMC Brotherhood |
experience also applies to whatever you do when you get out, such as school or work. You come out as a leader and should always strive to lead in whatever field of work you choose.
If you are the type of person that likes to be challenged or if you are a person that is looking for something challenging to do, then the Marine Corps can offer it in spades. Forget about your height, weight or strength. I was short, skinny and not very strong when I entered, but I graduated as a Marine from bootcamp. I trained with others that were shorter, taller, skinnier and fatter than me. Men who were told they would never make it to graduation completed the training and became proud Marines. Nothing feels more accomplishing then proving the nay sayers wrong and even more so when you come out stronger than when you started. The Corps has a famous saying that still holds true even today: Once a Marine, Always a Marine.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
 This website is just awesome in so many ways. It helped me get reacquainted with members of my unit, family members that had joined and brought back many memories of my days of service. I even got to read stories of older generations that inspire any who reads them.
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TWS VOICES
TWS Voices are the personal stories of men and women who served in the US Military and convey how serving their Country has made a positive impact on their lives. If you would like to participate in a future edition of Voices, or know someone who might be interested, please contact TWS Voices HERE.
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Semper Fidelis - Always Faithful. It's more than a motto. It's a way of life. TogetherWeServed.com is a unique, feature-rich resource helping Marines stay faithful to the Brotherhood of the Corps. This is a place where Marines can re-connect with lost Brothers, share memories and tell their Marine story.
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