Photo By Lance Cpl. Mike Granahan | Maj. Gen. Peter J. Talleri speaks to service members of 3rd Marine Logistics Group...... read more read more
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CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa - After more than three decades of faithful and dedicated Marine Corps service, Maj. Gen. Peter J. Talleri, a Butler, Pa. native and the commanding general of Marine Corps Installations Pacific and Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, will retire June 14 and leave Marines with an inspiring legacy.
Talleri will retire after completing the MCIPAC and MCB Butler change of command ceremony with Maj. Gen. Charles L. Hudson.
Talleri realized early in life that he wanted to serve and lead others in the military.
“I realized that the opportunities to lead were where my interests laid,” said Talleri. “Becoming an officer was about wanting to lead Marines and having the privilege of doing that for the past 34 years has been quite an honor.”
Talleri graduated from Clarion University, Clarion, Pa. and Officer Candidate School and was commissioned in 1979. His wife, Deborah Talleri, was there for both moments. She would serve alongside her husband for the next 34 years, witnessing and participating in Maj. Gen. Talleri’s military career from the promising beginning to its honorable end.
“This has been nothing like we ever imagined when we first began our career and got married,” said Deborah. “It’s been exciting and fascinating, and I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world. We have been blessed to have the opportunity to serve with so many wonderful people over the years, and that’s what I will miss the most.”
After serving at locations across the globe, Talleri views the greatest moment of his career as witnessing Marines using their training in real-world situations.
“During Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, it was knowing and having confidence in the training we provided our young Marines. To watch them excel on the battlefield; that to me was probably my biggest accomplishment,” said Maj. Gen. Talleri. “Our senior leaders did their utmost to provide the best resources and training. To see that executed on the battlefield by the Marines and staff noncommissioned officers who lead them was exemplary.”
The understanding of his family and a passion for leading Marines inspired Talleri to serve well beyond the 20-year retirement mark.
“It was easy to continue to serve. My family was happy, and I loved what I was doing,” Talleri explained. “Having the privilege to wake up and lead Marines each and every day, I’m not sure it gets any better than that.”
After more than three decades of service and bearing witness to an ever-changing and oftentimes volatile world, Talleri is confident Marines can respond to any future crises.
“The biggest challenge is in front of us,” said Talleri. “We’re going to downsize. We know that the nation’s budget is tight and the world requires us to have a global presence. The Marine Corps has been at this for 237 years, and I’m confident that we will face this challenge and all others head-on. We are a 9-1-1 ready force, and we will always continue to be that way as the U.S. Marine Corps. The nation has nothing to worry about because the Marines will always be there for them.”
Talleri’s confidence in the abilities of Marines to accomplish any mission provides him peace of mind as he begins his retirement from the Marine Corps, according to Deborah. The retirement marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the Talleri family.
“We will both miss being a direct part of the active-duty military, but we are excited to be able to spend more time with our families again,” said Deborah. “We look forward to settling into our new community but mostly being around our children. We have two grandchildren arriving soon, and we are beyond thrilled.”
Even though he is retiring from active duty, other family members will carry on the legacy of leading Marines, according to Talleri.
“Once a Marine, always a Marine,” Talleri added. “I am leaving active duty, but I am not leaving the Marine Corps. I had the honor of re-enlisting my nephew at Marine Corps Base Hawaii last month. It’s extremely gratifying to know that there is another Marine in the family on active duty and that we have the honor of watching him continue to do great things for our Corps.”
Deborah went on to share valuable advice for Marines and their families.
“You always have to be flexible because you never know what challenge, move or transition is going to come,” said Deborah. “So for a new spouse, you need to remain flexible as soon as you get somewhere. Become a part of your new community and get to know people.”
For Talleri, being a Marine will always be something he holds close.
“I would want individuals to know that being a U.S. Marine will by far be the most important thing I will do in my profession and in my lifetime,” he said. “I learned at a young point in my career that as an officer you serve to lead Marines. Having the privilege to do that in both peace and war has, and always will be, the most rewarding experience in my life. I’m very proud to have served.”
| Date Taken: | 06.14.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 06.14.2013 00:49 |
| Story ID: | 108643 |
| Location: | CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JP |
| Hometown: | BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,087 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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