STORY BEHIND THE PLAQUE
Service Reflections of GySgt Peter Bimonte, U.S. Marine Corps (1984-2004)

I wish I could say I dreamt of being a Marine since I was a young child, however, that wasn’t the case. In fact, I was well into my senior year at John F. Kennedy Catholic high school before joining the armed services ever entered my mind.

My best friend, Kevin Hendricks, was visiting the local USMC recruiter quite often just to hang out and he asked if I wanted to tag along. It wasn’t long thereafter that I knew the Marine Corps was my ticket out without having to spend 4 more years behind a desk at some faraway college. So it is without a doubt that my recruiter, Sgt Mark Cross was the single most important person who influenced my decision to join the Corps. I’ve heard some real “horror stories” about recruiters but this guy was top-notch and NEVER lied or painted a rosy picture of how things would be in boot camp. For that, I am forever thankful!

In full disclosure, the girls he introduced me to and the beer he bought me didn’t hurt either – Semper Fi, Sgt Cross!

Never a very good high school student, I was fortunate to score high enough on the ASVAB to qualify for Aviation Maintenance. After completion of boot camp (and a brief stay at MCAS Cherry Point awaiting A-School), I checked in for training at NAS Memphis.

On day one, I was sitting in a classroom of about 30 other Marines and Sailors. I was seated in the front row when a WM in charge dropped three papers on my desk and told me to take one and pass the others back. As I looked over the papers, I quickly realized they were orders to different schools aboard the base. The first paper read “Aviation Electronics,” and I thought that would be too difficult, so I passed it back. The next paper read “Aviation Structural Mechanic,” and I thought it would be too boring to pop rivets for the next 4 years, so I passed it back. The last paper was titled “Aviation Hydraulics Mechanic,” and that piqued my interest. Yeah, that’s more like it! I’ll work on landing gear! So I kept that paper, and that’s how I wound up receiving the training that would lead to the 6153 MOS.

Little did I know at the time, but Aviation Hydraulics deals with so much more than just landing gear! I stayed in this MOS until I was recommended and assigned to be a Quality Assurance Representative.

Although there are several, I would have to pick Operation Sharp Edge in Liberia (West Africa) and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In Liberia, we were tasked with providing food, supplies, and medical attention to those Liberians caught in the middle of their Country’s civil war. It was the first time in my Marine Corps career that I felt like what we were doing was making a difference in the lives of people- I was proud to wear the uniform of the United States military!

The war in Iraq was a whole different “ball game.” Fresh off the heels of the attack of 9/11, I felt a strong urge to face terrorism and eliminate it even if it meant sacrificing my own life. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not the hero here. Just a Marine wanting so badly to do his job. The real heroes are the first responders who gave their lives trying to help others on September 11, 2001.

This might seem comical coming from a veteran of Desert Shield/Storm, OIF, and OEF but I never cared much for aerial refueling!! Just the feeling of being THAT close to a C-130 full of gas with a long hose dangling in the breeze gives me the “heebie-jeebies” even as I write this.

I’ve never been a fan of flying THAT high in a helicopter either…give me a turf route any day! Now don’t get me wrong. Nothing bad ever happened- I was blessed to have had some really awesome pilots. But to this day, I’d rather visit the dentist or have a colonoscopy than be a crewmember during another aerial refueling mission!

I’d have to say the 5 years my wife and I spent in Hawaii were the best but not primarily because of the weather as you might expect. It was because of all the fantastic people we met and worked with during our stay. What an awesome place to be stationed. Hanauma Bay and the Cove aboard MCAS Kaneohe Bay will forever be etched in my memory bank. Dets to the Big Island and Kauai as well as Hurricane Iniki seem like yesterday! And the “VIP cabin” on K-bay and the beach at Bellows Air Force Base are fond memories for Angie and I.

And we’ll never forget the annual NFL Pro Bowls held at Aloha Stadium. Tailgating was a blast even if it only came around once each year!

Wow…that’s an incredibly hard question and best answered like this. There are way too many memories and to say one or two impacted me the most would be unfair.

I will say that the comradery of the Marine Corps is second to none. This is something I really took for granted over the course of my career and never truly appreciated until I was honorably discharged. The “civilian world” hasn’t got a clue what it means to “have someone’s back” the way the US military does and that’s a fact! Teamwork is instilled in every boot camp recruit and something we have to have to accomplish our mission.

Semper Fidelis is so much more than a catchy slogan. It’s what Marines live by.

While assigned to HMT-302 FREST (Aviation Instructor duty) I was the Course Supervisor. That meant I was responsible for updating the course curriculum and materials. After arriving at the squadron, I was astonished at how outdated the eleven weeks CH53 D/E course had become! Rather than continuing to teach, I took myself “off the podium” to focus solely on the course re-write. Together, with the input of my fellow Airframes Instructors, I was able to complete the re-write (schematics included) in just under 12 months.

To this day, I am so very proud of that accomplishment. I was awarded a Navy Commendation medal for my efforts.

My Combat Action Ribbon and my Combat Air Crew Wings are the most meaningful to me. As Marines, we spend so much time training for the “real thing” so when it comes along, our actions become automatic. I always wondered how I would react if a combat situation actually came up. Would I act in the manner I was trained or would I run and hide? Truthfully, nobody knows the answer to that question until they’re put in such a situation.

Combat gave me a reason to use my training. These awards validated for me that I had what it took to defend my Country when the “shit hit the fan” to the best of my ability.

Besides my wonderful wife, I’d have to say First Sergeant Alex Marovich had the most positive impact on me as a Marine. He took a “rough-edged” kid and taught me EVERYTHING he knew about the CH53 helicopter. From troubleshooting techniques to people skills, I always looked up to him. Whenever I needed someone to talk to, he was there. Whenever I needed a swift kick in the ass, he was there to provide that too! Together, under his tutelage, we made a great team and NOBODY could beat us.

We lost contact with each other over the years but I am forever grateful to this Marine. It was my honor to serve with you.

While on Instructor Duty at Heavy Marine Helicopter (Training) Squadron 302, I had the great pleasure of serving with Staff Sergeant Franklin McDonald. “Mac” as we affectionately called him was an awesome Marine. Always squared-away and at the top of his game when it came to teaching from the podium. Thanks for teaching an old “Delta Guy” new tricks! You made my transition to the “Echo” so much easier and ALWAYS had the time to go over lesson plans with me to ensure I was prepared for my next class.

I’d love to have a beer or twelve with you someday to talk about old times. Please look me up if you’re out there and come across my page!

That’s easy! Around Christmas time, our CO decided he would award a day off for everyone in the work center who had the best holiday decorations. Immediately I got to thinking how we could win this and came up with the following…a living nativity! So we quickly got to work on our uniforms of sheets and of course, swaddling clothes for the ‘baby Jesus’. Man did it go well as everyone pitched in with some great ideas! We even had some live animals to re-create the manger scene.

Needless to say, we won and were the talk of the squadron for a few days. Oh, the memories!? It still makes me laugh so hard to this day.

Following my military career, I took a job at a local John Deere manufacturing plant assembling a commercial line of z-track mowers. After a year or so, I was moved over to the Golf and Turf section of the plant and performed quality checks on the large fairway mowers. During my last year at John Deere, I landed a part-time job at the RBC Center in Raleigh. It was (and still is) the home of the Carolina Hurricanes hockey team, the NC State Wolfpack men’s basketball team, and it hosts several concerts and other events throughout the year. I started working part-time as a Changeover Crew member, eventually taking a full-time position as the Operations Division Lead Supervisor.

I am currently enjoying retirement and spending time with my family.

I belong to and support several major military associations. The biggest benefit derived is that these groups are our voice to those in political power so our hard-earned benefits don’t become eroded. I strongly suggest you do your “homework” and research a group before you join and donate your money. Some are better than others but knowing what they stand for is key!

Three important words…IMPROVISE, ADAPT and OVERCOME!!! ‘nuff said.

Try to take one day at a time. Listen, I never would have imagined back on day one of boot camp that I’d do 20 years in the Corps. Believe me, there were some rough times, especially early during my first enlistment. Try to seek out the “duty experts” in your field and stick to them like glue. Be a sponge and soak up as much knowledge as you can. I’ve seen it a thousand times. Knowledge is power! Always do the right thing even if you think nobody’s looking- chances are someone is!

And last but not least, HAVE FUN. You are an important member of the greatest fighting force on the planet. You will always carry the title of US MARINE.

Fair winds and following seas, my brothers and sisters.

It has allowed me to put my career in chronological order while jogging my memory bank. I have been able to learn about my fellow service members and have made some great friends along the way. The forums have been a cool way to communicate with so many unbelievable people. I’m hooked. I have quickly become a TogetherWeServed addict!!