Photo By Cpl. Alexis Schneider | U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Michael L. Scalise, as the embarkation officer, 1st...... read more read more
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Today, there are approximately 18 million veterans in the United States. Each year on Nov. 11, we honor the sacrifices of those who have served.
Michael L. Scalise, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel, is one of those veterans who honorable served his country for more than 30 years.
Scalise, born July 30, 1963, in Hampton, Iowa, said he always knew he wanted to serve his country as a U.S. Marine.
“I do not have any memory where I didn’t want to be a Marine or was not a Marine,” Scalise said.
In October 1988, Scalise’s dream became reality when he attended Officer Candidate School and commissioned as a logistics officer. His first assignment was 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment (V1/2), 2nd Marine Division, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
“When I graduated from Officer Candidate School I called my mom, and I called her collect because I wanted to hear the operator say, ‘Will you accept the call from Lieutenant Scalise?’ And that was all calculated.”
While attached to V1/2, Scalise deployed in support of operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and completed a unit deployment to Okinawa. In 1992, Scalise also served as Inspector-Instructor for the 4th Landing Support Battalion and was recognized for his performance as a logistics officer and an operations officer for the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit during two Western Pacific deployments.
“Every good thing that I have in my life I can link to the Marine Corps,” Scalise said. “I met my wife through the Marine Corps after receiving a set of orders down to San Jose, California. I never would’ve met her had it not been for the Marine Corps.”
Scalise served in several other positions and deployments prior to his final transfer to MCB Camp Lejeune where he served as assistant chief of staff for G-4 and deputy commander for Marine Corps Installations East-MCB Camp Lejeune.
According to Scalise, during their time at MCB Camp Lejeune, his wife fell in love with the area, and it was then decided that they would retire in the same place where his career began.
Scalise retired as the deputy commander of MCIEAST-MCB Camp Lejeune at the Paradise Point Officers Club, Oct. 5, 2018. He dedicated 30 years of honorable service to the Corps and for his exemplary performance, he was awarded the Legion of Merit (Gold star in lieu of second award) for his outstanding service as the assistant chief of staff for the G-4, deputy commander and commander of MCIEAST-MCB Camp Lejeune from July 2015 until his retirement in November 2018.
“He truly down deep in his bones, as deep as you can go, loves Marines and loves the Marine Corps,” said Maj. Gen. Julian D. Alford, commanding general of MCIEAST-MCB Camp Lejeune, at the time of Scalise’s retirement. “He can be proud of 30 years of service, and it was my honor to send him off.”
Since his retirement in 2018, Scalise continues to serve his fellow Marines and his Carolina community by helping to help make the surrounding area better for active duty military and veterans as the assistant chief of staff for Government and External Affairs for MCIEAST-MCB Camp Lejeune.
“I will forever be grateful for the Marine Corps and all the experiences, opportunities and life-long friends it has given me and all the places I have been,” Scalise said.
| Date Taken: | 10.20.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 11.06.2020 14:34 |
| Story ID: | 382506 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE , NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 416 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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