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By Pfc. Howard Ketter
Desert Voice Staff Writer
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - Service members honored the life of a fallen comrade at the Zone 1 Chapel on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Sept. 19, 2008.
The memorial service for 46-year-old Lt. Col. Ralph J. Marino, who served as a public affairs officer for U.S. Army Central, was held to honor the hard-working Soldier's life.
"No task too difficult, no sacrifice too great, mission first," said Col. Thomas Nickerson, Chief PAO, USARCENT. "It defined who he was and what he did everyday."
Marino was commissioned in the Reserve Officers Training Corps, with a degree in political science from Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, Penn., in 1984. After graduation, he served as an active duty field artillery officer until 1992. During that time, he served with the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C., and deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
After leaving active duty, he spent time as an assistant professor of military science at North Arizona University.
Marino was deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, in 2003 serving as a public affairs officer for Combined Joint Task Force 180.
After Afghanistan, he was the officer in charge of the Personnel Assistance Point at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport.
In March 2008, he volunteered for a one-year assignment at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait as a public affairs officer.
Marino is survived by his father and mother, Ralph Sr. and Janice Marino, who reside in Houston, Pa.
The service honoring Marino's life began with an invocation by Col. Craig Wiley, command chaplain, USARCENT, followed by special music and a reading of the scripture, Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, by Lt. Col. Martha Brooks, PAO operations officer, USARCENT.
Lt. Col. Paula Z. Jones, deputy PAO, USARCENT, reflected on Marino's close attention to detail and persistent work ethic.
"His heart and passion lied in strategic communications," said Jones. "Ralph truly respected and spoke highly of the USARCENT leadership and enjoyed working with colonel Nickerson and everyone on the PAO team."
She talked about how the two got to know each other and his constant reminders and checks on her equipment.
"Colonel Marino was my battle buddy," said Jones.
She also spoke about how they ate at the Zone 2 dining facility everyday and their differences in choices of food, as the two became friends.
Nickerson reflected on Marino's warm personality, though he remained a stern, hard working Soldier.
"He illuminated ground truth, and told you what you needed to hear and not what you wanted to hear, and I appreciated that," said Nickerson.
Lt. Col. Gregory McAfee, commander, Special Troops Battalion, USARCENT, gave remarks, saying that Marino was a true professional, dedicated and humble, and a warrior who went about his job with precision and commitment.
Capt. George Shaffer, chaplain, STB, USARCENT, led the attendance in a meditation, a moment of silence for the fallen Soldier and a benediction.
First Sgt. Jessie Tyson, headquarters and headquarters company, USARCENT, gave the traditional last role call for Marino, which was followed by the firing of the volleys and the playing of "Taps."
Soldiers in attendance rendered their final salutes in honor of the late Soldier as a postlude was played.
"I learned something from him everyday and even in his death I learned things that I will carry throughout my life," said Nickerson. "The most important being to celebrate each other everyday and never pass up the opportunity to treat everyone with dignity and respect because tomorrow is not promised."
| Date Taken: | 09.19.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 09.26.2008 03:45 |
| Story ID: | 24164 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Web Views: | 221 |
| Downloads: | 160 |
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