Photo By Lisa Tourtelot | Mrs. Vicki Steele, Col. Wayne Steele's wife, dabs her eyes as she looks on during her...... read more read more
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Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. - There‘s no question that Col. Wayne Steele is dedicated to the Marine Corps. When most Marines enter the Corps they typically only serve for four years. Steele has served more than twice the time required to retire.
Why?
“Because I love Marines, I love leading Marines,” said Steele.
Steele has been promoted an astonishing 17 times, and has seen the Marine Corps evolve from using grease pencils and M151 Jeeps to computers and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPS).
“This just doesn’t happen,” said Major Gen. Steven Busby, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing commanding general, during Steele’s retirement ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., June 12. “To go from private to gunnery sergeant, warrant officer to chief warrant officer five and from captain to colonel (all in one career) just doesn’t happen. And it couldn’t have been done any better than (he did).”
Steele thinks of the Marine Corps as his extended family.
“I have spent more time here with some of these Marines than I have with my own siblings,” said Steel.
Although many things have changed and progressed through Steele’s career, he is adamant that there is one thing that has stayed exactly the same: the dedication of the Marines.
“These Marines are just as dedicated today as the Marines I served with during the Vietnam War,” said Steele.
Now, after 42 years of faithful service, Steele will leave the active ranks of the Marine Corps.
“People have asked me if I will miss the Marine Corps” said Steele. “I don’t know that I will miss the Marine Corps, but I will miss the Marines.”
| Date Taken: | 06.12.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 06.12.2013 19:07 |
| Story ID: | 108554 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | ALLAMUCHY, NEW JERSEY, US |
| Web Views: | 1,044 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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