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MARIETTA, Ga. - Hundreds of flags sway in the warm Georgia breeze. A sea of red, white and blue flags, held by veterans and supporters, shoulder to shoulder, flank the road on July 26, 2015, leading to the entrance of the First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Georgia. The hearse arrives, and the casket, draped with an American flag, is carried by six Marines into the church as the surrounding crowd slowly salutes. Inside the church, more than 2,500 people are present to pay their respects to Lance Cpl. Squire “Skip” Wells.
Wells was pursuing his dream career as a United States Marine when his life was violently cut short on July 16, 2015, at the age of 21. Wells and four other service members were killed during a shooting at the Naval Operational Support Center and Marine Corps Reserve Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Wells had a short career. However, he developed his interest for the military well into his childhood. As a young boy, Wells painted toy soldiers with his grandfather, according to JerekQ D. Aloisio, Wells’ best friend. Wells and Aloisio would often watch movies like “Band of Brothers” and “Saving Private Ryan” together, as well as play with toy guns, shooting imaginary bad guys and reenacting historic wars in his backyard.
“We used to put cans in the can crusher, yell random coordinates and press it down pretending it was an artillery cannon,” said Aloisio. “Together we found his calling.”
During high school, Wells successfully followed his mother’s footsteps as a clarinet player for the school’s band. Yet, the pursuit for his military career was not left behind. In addition to his regular class schedule and his extra-curricular involvement with the band, Wells also joined the school’s Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program.
During his NJROTC career, Wells earned the rank of chief petty officer, received The Most Improved Cadet Award, and placed in the top three of several different drill competitions. Gunnery Sgt. Joe L. Ingram, Naval Science instructor for Sprayberry High School NJROTC, described Wells as an outstanding, model cadet.
“He was motivated, tactful and compassionate about the military. He loved the Marine Corps,” said Ingram. “Everybody loved him; he was always respectful and always smiling.”
Once he graduated with the class of 2012, Wells visited the Recruiting Substation Kennesaw and became a Marine Corps poolee, taking the first step into his military career.
According to Staff Sgt. Daniel J. Franklin, RSS Kennesaw recruiter, Wells walked into his recruiting station for the first time, two days before Christmas.
“We were literally about to begin our Christmas holiday, when he walked into the office and said ‘I want to be a Marine,’” said Franklin.
After looking at all the military occupational specialties available, Wells’ first choice was to become a field artillery cannoneer and he was pretty excited about it, Franklin recalled. Wells was only a poolee for three weeks before he received an important call from Franklin, asking if he was ready to go to recruit training. Without a second of hesitation he shouted a vigorous yes through the phone, said Franklin.
Franklin describes Wells as a very sincere and highly motivated young man, with a great desire and drive for success.
“One thing that always comes to my mind when I think of Skip Wells is the fact that he was a hell of a Marine,” said Franklin. “We lost an all-around good guy, who would always look around for everybody else before he looked out for himself.”
Upon graduating from Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in May 2014, Wells attended the School of Infantry East, Marine combat training and MOS school prior to checking in with his unit, Battery M, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, Chattanooga, Tennessee in June 2014.
Within months of joining the unit, Wells developed a reputation as a good, dedicated Marine, said 1st Sgt. John Coyne, the first sergeant for Battery M. Wells was eager to learn, and constantly asking his leadership for advice on how to improve himself as a Marine and improve his career, Coyne added.
"He was what we call a hard charger," said Coyne.
Coyne also recalled a training exercise in Twentynine Palms, California, when Wells was involved in an accident with a sledgehammer. After having his injury examined, it was decided Wells should be detached from the exercise in order to receive proper medical care. Coyne quoted his junior Marine with a loud voice and an expression of pride on his face "‘First sergeant, I will not leave my gun. I’ll refuse medical treatment but I’m not leaving my position.’"
"He cared more about his fellow Marines and the mission than he did his personal safety,” Coyne added. “That's what he was doing on July 16."
| Date Taken: | 07.31.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 07.31.2015 19:43 |
| Story ID: | 171771 |
| Location: | MARIETTA, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 79 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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