STORY BEHIND THE PLAQUE
Service Reflections of Cpl Donte Moore, U.S. Marine Corps (2002-2006)

While in high school, I was a member of the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (1998-2002). This interest was ignited by observing my uncle, mentor, and Vietnam Veteran, Percy. I always considered him a hard-working and disciplined person. We both also served as Law Enforcement Officers.

During my Junior year in high school (2000), I met with a Marine Corps Recruiter, Staff Sergeant Johnson, and from that moment, I was struck! I had to be a Marine! Then, the events of September 11th, 2001, transpired, and that further tugged on me. I enlisted that year in the Delayed Entry Program. I left for Recruit Training in September 2002.

I served in the Marines for a total of four years. After enlistment and graduation from MCRD San Diego on December 20th, 2002 (2nd RTC, Hotel Co, Plt. 2127), I was sent to Marine Combat Training and, soon after, the Marine Corps Cannon Crewmen Course at Ft. Sill, OK. When MOS School was completed, I received orders to my Permanent Duty Station, the lovely 29 Palms, CA., where I was first a Cannon Crewman for Mike Battery 3/11. I then volunteered to go to Iraq and was attached to Lima Battery 3/12.

As stated, when I got wind of a different battery in my battalion receiving marching orders to Iraq, I immediately spoke with the “powers that be.” I requested to be transferred to the 3/12 Lima Battery. After some Stability and Security Operations training, we made our way to Kuwait via C-130 (the most uncomfortable 22-hour ride ever). Once in Kuwait, we conducted more weapons, urban, and tactical vehicle training; then, we drove in unarmored HUMVVs to Camp Junction City, Ramadi, Iraq.

I can recall vividly the arid heat and anxiety that ran through my body while being directly exposed to both nature and humanity as an M2 50 cal Machine Gunner. I constantly rehearsed “what if” drills in my head, as I knew that I was the eyes and ears of our vehicle team (and an easy target for the enemy).

Fast forwarding to April 2004, this was a very intense month for not only my unit but all of Iraq, as many insurgents took strategic advantage of the weak government and began many attacks on our unit(s).

In my four years of service, I was only stationed on a few, but most of my greatest memories occurred during my time in Okinawa, Japan. While there, I had the opportunity to visit Ground Zero for Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This was very humbling and sobering. I also got the chance to visit Tokyo and some other islands of Japan. I will never forget the experiences that I acquired while in Japan. My stay there was enlightening, at the least, and helped me to appreciate our culture and that of the Japanese.

What a question! Many memories are forever engraved in my mind, from the many drills conducted at MCRD San Diego to the hellish hikes in Marine Combat Training to the frigid days at Artillery School in Ft. Sill. There are too many to write in one sitting.

There is one, however, that personally affected me the most, and that would be the day I was shot in the leg. It was a very eerie day. I remember we were the quick reaction force for an Army convoy that was leaving Baghdad International Airport (BIAP), and we were going to escort them to a place called Scania, I believe. From the moment we left the gate, we all knew something was wrong. Not even minutes into the convoy, we started to receive fire from both sides of the roadway. During this ambush, I was shot in the leg and had to be evacuated and spend a few nights in the Abu Graib Hospital.

I would have to say that my awards, my Purple Heart Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation w/Combat “V,” Combat Action Ribbon (CAR), and my Good Conduct Medal are my top raters! As previously stated, I earned my Purple Heart for my gunshot wound received while in Iraq, and I obtained my Navy Commendation Medal w/”V” for heroic achievement while serving as a machine gunner during the same firefight that I earned the Purple Heart. During the battle in which I was shot and after our unit was barraged by machine guns, rocket-propelled grenade fire, and automatic weapon fire, I started slipping into shock and began to become unconscious. I did not want to give up my post, nor did I want to receive medical aid, until the insurgents ceased their firing and assault.

I am proud of my Good Conduct Medal also, because it can be very challenging to obtain this award at times for even the best Marines!

Again, my Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/Combat “V” and my Good Conduct Medal. These all mean a great deal to me because they are a constant reminder of not only me but ALL those service members before and after me who made and still make unselfish sacrifices daily, even at the loss of limb, life, and so on. I just want to thank all of my comrades for their service.

There are many who have made great waves in my military tenure. I have to mention a few before I mention one that stands out among the rest. Colonel Thomas Connally and Sergeant Major Jan Miller were my CO and Battalion Sergeant Major, respectively, while in 3/11.

Master Gunnery Sergeant Jonathan Banks, was not only the Battalion’s Field Artillery Chief but still a true supporter and friend of mine (even though we are distant both in rank and area).

Lastly, I would have to say the person who had the most positive impact on me during my time has to be Master Gunnery Sergeant Estevan Gonzalez. Top Gonzalez was the one who eyed me out during my transition from Artillery School to my first duty station. He had just returned from a tour on the Drill Field, so I don’t have to say that he was “locked on!” He took me under his wing and always pushed me to be the best Marine I could be. Even if I couldn’t meet my mark, he demanded that I meet his; thanks, Top Gonzalez!

Calling someone a friend is a very serious claim, and the men that I will list meet the criteria. Men like Robert Miller (Philly), Nick Montesinos (Indio, CA), Joseph Garcia (Antioch, CA), Tony Johnson (Atlanta, GA), John Moriera (CA), Jose Mungia (CA), and Aaron Shirley (GA) just to name a few. These were friends that stuck closer than brothers and made my time in service very memorable and awesome; even when we were going through some very arduous times, these gentlemen soldiers answered the call of bravery, sacrifice, and honor on and off of the battlefield.

Hats off to you guys!

I can recall a time while in Japan when a buddy and I (no name-dropping for his safety) were late coming back to base (a curfew was established on Camp Hansen, Okinawa). We were scared as heck because we just knew we were gonna get a royal chewing when the duty NCO saw us coming in extremely late and past curfew. Somehow, we finally made our way back to the barracks with all of our body parts intact!

We still laugh about that incident to this day!

After leaving the Corps, I re-enlisted in the US Army Reserve (serving in that capacity for four years), went to school, earned my Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice, and eventually became a Police Officer (for approximately three years).

I am also a Christian Minister at my local Church and have been in this position for the past seven years. As a minister, and in all the other listed areas of public service, I have been directly able to positively impact the lives of many people, and that gives me a sense of further service since my time out of active duty military service.

I am a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, VFW, and MOWW. These organizations emphasize civic duty, patriotism, and devotion to serving others. They are impeccable.

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?

Since I was a young man growing up in the impoverished areas of inner city Milwaukee, I have always had the desire to arise from the adversities of poverty, crime, and so on and serve my family, country, and God. Serving in the Marines and the Army Reserve showed me that you shouldn’t allow your past negative environments to dictate your future success and define you as a person unless it’s a lesson on how you beat the odds, improvise, adapt, and overcome! I give great credit to the Marines for helping reinforce that ideal.

Whatever you do, do it with all of your heart, mind, and energy. Always set out to be a positive source for someone other than yourself. Never give up. Even when adversity or uncomfortable experiences occur, remember the mission and that others are depending on you. Stay hungry, stay true, and stay motivated.

In What Ways Has Togetherweserved.com Helped You Remember Your Military Service And The Friends You Served With?

Together We Served has been an integral part of my being able to keep in touch with friends and fellow veterans alike. It’s always amazing to see how all of us have something in common, even though our times in service were in different eras, countries, and campaigns.