Photo By Sgt. Autmn Laning | Staff Sgt. Jared King is a platoon sergeant for 3rd Battalion 6th Marine Regiment,...... read more read more
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This Memorial Day, Marine Staff Sgt. Jared King recalls celebrating years earlier, in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where he grew up. King followed his father’s footsteps in joining the Marine Corps and has served 12 years with plans to retire. King passionately accepts the role the Marine Corps gives him in leading and mentoring junior Marines about the importance of honoring the men and women who have served before them and have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
“It feels good being able to pass on what I know to the junior Marines,” said King. “More importantly being able to mentor the squad leaders so that they are able to do their job better than I ever could have done it. I think that is the biggest thing for me, to make sure that they are better than I ever was,” he said.
Recalling his past, Memorial Day means something more to him than just barbeque and a day off.
“Going through what I have gone through, I’ve lost good friends. One of them I named my son after. So it definitely means a lot more to me and I definitely take it to heart more than I used to,” he said.
King eyes the floor as he shares a personal account from earlier in his career. “It’s very humbling, just knowing that I did share that last meal with my good friend Garrett Misner who was killed December 27, 2010,” said King. “We shared our last meal together literally minutes before he stepped out on his patrol.”
On most Memorial Days, King meets up with past friends to talk about the days when they served together. Unlike most years, King will spend this Memorial Day in the company of the Marines and Sailors aboard amphibious assault ship USS Bataan.
“No matter where I am, Memorial Day is all about remembering the service members both past and present that have given their lives,” he said.
Staff Sgt. Jared King is a platoon sergeant for 3rd Battalion 6th Marine Regiment, Lima Company and is currently deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
| Date Taken: | 05.29.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 06.06.2017 03:37 |
| Story ID: | 235770 |
| Location: | AT SEA |
| Web Views: | 30 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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