Reinhardt, Gerald, Sgt

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE MARINE CORPS.
When I was in the six or seventh grade a group of Marines came to our school and gave a demonstration of hand- to- hand fighting techniques. They arrived in their dress blues and put on a show that impressed me no end. Their professionalism, discipline, and expertise made me decide then and there that someday without a doubt I would become a United States Marine.

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
Originally my intent was to become an infantryman and really I had no aspirations beyond that basic goal. However, one day in boot camp, our Senior Drill Instructor requested that all recruits six feet tall and overtake one step forward to the center of the squad bay. Very purposefully he walked down the ranks and chose about ten of us from the platoon. We then were taken to the Battalion Headquarters Office where we were tested and interviewed for Sea School. I never heard or thought anything further about it until graduation when the DI informed me I was chosen to be a Seagoing Marine. I attended Sea School at Portsmouth, Virginia and then on to the USS Enterprise CVAN-65 where I spent the next two years and two tours off the coast of Vietnam.

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
Yes, Enterprise participated in Operation Rolling Thunder ultimately receiving a Navy Unit Commendation and numerous Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross citations. The small part I played in this effort was the assembly and arming of bombs and missiles that would be loaded onto our aircraft and deployed in-country. The Marines aboard Enterprise also manned ten .50 cal. machine gun positions strategically located about the ships catwalks. These were supposed to be used in the event Enterprise was ever attacked by small surface craft but with a destroyer and submarine screen around us and 24/7 air combat patrol overhead, nothing like that ever occurred.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
My promotions to Corporal and Sergeant. Aboard Enterprise rank was very slow. There were only about seventy Marines aboard and promotions were few and far between as our TO allowed only so many Corporals, Sergeants etc. After making PFC out of Sea School, I spent about eighteen months in grade before being raised to Lance Corporal. Three months later I made Corporal meritoriously and just about a year after that I was promoted to Sergeant. After such an extremely slow start, I'm very proud of having made Sergeant in three years.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
I'm quite proud of the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon I received as it represents the small part I played in the Vietnam War effort. I also take pride in my pistol expert badge. I was never a very good shot with the rifle. Whether it be the M-1 or M-14, the best I could ever manage in the Corps was Marksman (I did manage to fire expert with both the pistol and M-16 rifle in the NYANG). With the pistol, however, I always shot expert. I'm still very active in target shooting with my handguns. Principally the S&W .40 cal.

Many years ago I had heard about the RVN Navy Service Medal that was authorized for wear by all US Navy personnel who had served aboard surface ships, boats and other craft off the coast and on the rivers, etc of Vietnam. Marines, including Seagoing Marines, were originally excluded. Apparently, fairly recently, someone realized that Marines such as myself serving with a Marine Detachment aboard a surface ship would qualify for this medal. I think it's kind of unique to rate one.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
My Senior Drill Instructor, Staff Sergeant (later Captain) Jack Davis. Ultimately, it was he who determined the path my service career took. For whatever reason, he saw something in me that made him believe I'd be successful as a Sea Duty Marine. Jack, is a member of this forum and I still communicate with him and consider him a good friend.

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?
There were probably thousands of incidents but the one I recall most often is the day we were leaving Parris Island for Camp Gieger. We were descending the ladder from the upper level of the barracks when unbeknownst to me I dropped my Military ID Card on the steps behind me. All at once I heard the dreaded voice of our Senior DI yell my name and I froze. My first thought was "OH NO! HE'S NOT GONNA' LET ME LEAVE THIS ISLAND". Instead, I heard him very kindly and politely say, "Marine, you're gonna' need that ID card at Sea School. Be more careful or they'll end up throwing you overboard". I knew then and there that I was no longer a recruit but a Marine.

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?
The first few months after discharge I worked as an Electrical (ARC) Welder. Meanwhile, I studied for and took every test available for prospective Law Enforcement Officers. Seeking employment in law enforcement stemmed directly from my tour as a military police desk sergeant with the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune. The first department to call me for an interview was the Erie Lackawanna Railway Police Department in Buffalo, New York. We reviewed my test scores and job expectations and within the week I was hired as a Patrolman. The first four months I attended and graduated from the Erie County (NY) Sheriff's Training Academy. I worked for the Erie Lackawanna Police for three years before transferring to the Norfolk & Western Railroad Police Department (now Norfolk Southern). I retired from the railroad police after twenty-nine years as a Lieutenant in Cleveland, Ohio. I then stayed for two additional years with the Norfolk Southern Casualty Claims Department as an Agent/Investigator, taking my full retirement in 2001.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I'm a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a Cootie. I served as post Chaplin from 2003 - 2004. I'm also a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
Throughout my civilian life and especially in my career I've tried to live within the confines of the values the Marine Corps instilled in me. To be honest and honorable, fair and just in my dealings with others and to maintain self-discipline and control. I don't mean to sound like Mr. Perfect, I'm certainly not. I've had my share of failures as well as my successes. But, I learned early on, there's no shame in failure only in not trying. The Marine Corps taught me not to give up.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE MARINE CORPS?
Enjoy the time you're serving even the adversity. It will make you stronger and more than likely, you will survive it. Later in life, you will look back on those times with pride, fondness, and longing. Most, if not all of my time spent in the Corps is a very precious memory upon which I reflect often. More so as I grow older.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
I've met a few old friends and some new ones through Together We Served and I enjoy periodically viewing their profiles to see what's happening in their lives.

DS 10/2/17
ES 3/5/19