STORY BEHIND THE PLAQUE
Service Reflections of CWO3 Scott Pipenhagen, U.S. Marine Corps (1982-2005)

As to why I chose the Marines, it was a no-brainer once I decided to join the military since anything else would leave me wondering if I could have made it in the Marines.

Despite growing up in a family of veterans (Grandpa, Dad, and two Uncles), I never really gave much thought to joining the military myself. This all changed one day when, out of the blue, one of my cousins came to me and said that he was going to talk to the Marine Corps recruiter and wanted me to drive him there. I agreed to drive him and, on the way to the recruiter, he told me about a “Buddy Program” in which we, supposedly, could enlist together and then be stationed together throughout our enlistment. Needless to say, this was probably not the most accurate information, but it sounded good to me.

Once we got to the recruiting station, I had already made up my mind that I needed a change in my life and was going to sign up if my cousin did since I was just wasting money at college and needed a break from schooling.

Bottom line: He did not sign up but I did.

I wanted to be a Dog Handler in the Marines, but there were no Military Police quotas open. My recruiter told me I could go to Boot Camp with an Open Contract and then put in for a Lateral Move into the Military Police field, so I signed up. Just prior to shipping out, some quotas opened up for Military Police and my recruiter contacted me and we submitted a Contract Modification. I sweated out Boot Camp not knowing if the Mod had taken effect but, when we were informed of our MOS assignments, I was relieved to find that I was going to be a 58xx. However, I was to be going into the Corrections Field rather than the Military Police!

When I reported to Military Police school at Lackland Air Force Base, TX, I was told the Corrections class had already started and that they would have to put me into the next MP class instead so that I would not be sitting around too long between classes. Upon completion of this school, I finished in a tie for the top of the class and both of us were able to select to remain at Lackland for Canine training. Following school, I reported to Okinawa, Japan for my first official Duty Station where I was meritoriously promoted to LCpl and Cpl.

Two years later I returned to the U.S. and was stationed at MCAS, Yuma, AZ, where I was sent to the G-3 as a Pistol and Rifle coach. When I finally made it back to the MPs, they had no dogs available so I was made a Desk Sergeant/Patrol Supervisor and Flight Line Security Supervisor. At the end of my enlistment, I left the Marines and returned home to MN where I joined the MP Reserve unit at Ft. Snelling. The I&I SNCOIC was a GySgt I had served with while on Okinawa so I was made the Training NCO for our Reserve Unit and was promoted to Sgt since I was already over the required cutting score. Three months later I was back on Active Duty. If I was going to do this, I was going to do it for real! Unfortunately, the Marines saw my Sgt rank as being a Reserve Promotion and I had to come back in as a VERY senior Cpl and reported to Camp LeJeune, NC.

I soon received my Sgt stripes back and then began looking around since I was at terminal rank as a 5812. So, I began to OJT with the CID office and, about a year later, went to CID School at Ft. McClellan, AL. After completion of that course, I returned to Camp LeJeune for several years before returning to Okinawa, Japan. During this tour, I applied for and was accepted as, a Warrant Officer. Upon completion of WOBC at Quantico, VA, I returned to Okinawa as a CID Officer and was assigned to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) until I returned to the U.S.

Next stop, Camp Pendleton, CA, where I went to work for the local NCIS office for a few months before being assigned to the 11th MEU as their AT/FP Officer. Upon completion of that float and part way into the ensuing work-ups for the next, I was shifted to I MEF G-7 (SOTG), where I was the AT/FP / Non-Lethal Weapons Officer.

Not long after this, there was a merger between CID and NCIS which caused a significant restructuring within the 5821 MOS. As a result, I made a Lateral Move at the 18-1/2 year mark and became a Range Officer (MOS 9925) at Edson Range. I then PCSed to Quantico, VA, and was the Range Unit OIC before moving to the Marksmanship Program Management Section (doctrine/training). Here I served as the Chief Range Officer of the Marine Corps before retiring.

Ultimately, my decision to retire was a family decision based upon the circumstances we found ourselves in at the time. I was informed I would be heading back out to CA (Twenty-Nine Palms) after having just PCSed to VA from Camp Pendleton and my wife (who was expecting at the time) and I decided it was time to put down roots and raise a family.

Operation Safe Departure (1998 with 11th MEU). We had finished a visit to Eritrea and were in Jordan for a training exercise when Eritrea and Ethiopia started shooting at each other again. This resulted in us (USS Tarawa) having to leave port early and head back to Eritrea to conduct/coordinate the evacuation of Embassy and other American citizens from Eritrea.

Okinawa 1983-1985 – In addition to working K9 with some super Marines and dogs, I fell in love with the Okinawan people and the culture and pace of life on the island!

I feel that the thing that impacted me the most throughout my time in the Marines was just the overall sense of camaraderie and the solid friendships that were developed.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a dog handler, and this was my favorite assignment up until the time I was the OIC at Range Unit, Weapons Training Battalion, Quantico, VA. It was there that I felt the most fulfilled and found the most enjoyment. I realize my logic in this instance may be counter-intuitive to some, but I really enjoyed working with, and for, the Marines who worked for me as we sought to sort through the issues and circumstances of their daily and personal lives. I feel they knew that I truly cared for each and every one of them and that I would go to bat for them at the Battalion as long as they were willing to do their part and get their act together.

The last item that really impacted my also took place while at Range Unit. The war was going full force and the Marines were starting to take a number of casualties, many from IEDs and VBIEDs. As a result, there were frequent calls to units at Quantico to provide escorts for fallen Marines as they were returned to their families. When the call came for Range Unit to provide a volunteer, I knew this was something I had to do myself. There was no way I was going to ask one of my Marines to do this if it was something I was unwilling to do myself; I needed to set the example.

I will never regret this decision and, to this day, I often think of PFC (now LCpl) Fernando Baxter Hannon (Click here to view his page.). Not long after this, I watched the movie ‘Taking Chance” and, like LtCol Strobl was told in the movie, I in some way feel like I am LCpl Hannon’s “witness”.

While it is certainly not one of the more senior awards, the most meaningful awards for me was the Navy Achievement Medal (and associated awards and mementos I received from the Japanese government) in 1995.

The reason this is so meaningful to me is that it represented the successful resolution of a significant investigation that received considerable attention from the media, military, and the governments of the United States and Japan. I only hope that all the hard work that went into this investigation by our entire team allowed the victim and victim’s family to attain closure.

MGySgt Stu Slagle, MSgt John Spillers, and CWO4 Henry (Hank) Bell provided exemplary leadership and were pivotal role models for me while I was starting out as a Criminal Investigator. It was Mr. Bell’s influence that was the deciding factor in my decision to pursue transitioning from the enlisted ranks to the Warrant Officer community.

Additionally, LtCol Timothy Blunck played a very large role in my career as a Marine. He was a life-long friend that I met through my wife and her family. Unfortunately, he is no longer with us as of 10 February 2016, and is now ‘guarding the streets of heaven’: 

Visit his page here.

Once I retired from Active Duty, I stayed in the Quantico area and went back to work for the Marines as a contractor doing requirements work for the USMC Non-Lethal Weapons Program. Over the years, I shifted from one civilian company to the next but continued in the same job as each new contract was awarded. The position was then converted to a Government vice contractor billet and I successfully competed for that position. In 2015 I assumed duties as the Operations Officer within the Force Protection Integration Division at MCCDC.

In addition to my current job, I also volunteer with Serve & Protect where I serve as a Transition / Recovery Chaplain by providing much-needed transition services as those in residential care return from treatment, walking with them as a mentor and getting them connected with a local 12 Step / Celebrate Recovery or similar program, and a Chaplain and Trauma Therapist to continue their recovery journey.

Serve & Protect is a 501(c)(3) non-profit providing crisis line, chaplain, and trauma therapy services for law enforcement, Fire/Rescue/EMS, dispatch, and corrections professionals and their families 24/7 coast to coast. In addition, we provide a network of resources to serve the needs of these Homeland Heroes.

I currently belong to the Marine Corps League, American Legion, and the VFW, all of which advocate for my rights as a Veteran.

However, it is at the Marine Corps League, where I am the Detachment Chaplain, that I feel the most at home. Despite the fact that I still work for the Marine Corps and am around Marines all day long, it is through the Marine Corps League that I finally found the camaraderie that has been missing in my life since I retired.

It has served to further hone the ideals that were instilled in me by my parents: Honesty, Integrity, Respect, and Hard Work.

Pursue education at every opportunity, whether this is in the form of degree completion or other military training opportunities.

Go into each new assignment with a good attitude and with the determination to make the best of it and enjoy your time, no matter the circumstance.

As you move up in rank, NEVER abuse the power associated with your position and treat each of your subordinates with respect and fairness.

This site has been helpful in reconnecting with Marines I had served with in the past and had lost contact with over the years.