(Editor’s Note: The Jefferson Post will be featuring stories about active military personnel and veterans over the next two months to highlight their service and sacrifice in honor of July Fourth Independence Day and the upcoming Armed Forces Tribute in August. Information is provided by Jeffersons Rotary Club President Vicky Moody, organizer of the annual Armed Forces Tribute.)

First Sergeant Mark A. Massey is the son of Kenneth Everett and Stella Cline Massey of Lansing. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on 18 May 1985. He came on active duty and attended Recruit Training on 28 October 1985 and graduated from Fox Company, Second Recruit Training Battalion, Parris Island, South Carolina on 17 January 1986. After graduation of Recruit Training he completed Infantry Training School at Camp Geiger, North Carolina. He graduated with the assigned Military Occupational Specialty of 0311, Infantry Rifleman. He then reported to 1st Battalion 8th Marines aboard Camp Geiger, North Carolina. While serving with Company B, he held billets as an Automatic Rifleman, Team Leader, and Squad leader respectively. During the period of March 1986 to February 1989, he completed one unit deployment to Okinawa and one Landing Force 6th Fleet cruise to the Mediterranean Sea with the 26th MEU.

In February 1989, Corporal Massey reported to 1st Battalion 6th Marines for duty with Company A. While serving with Company A, he held the 2nd Team Leader position for the 2nd Marine Division annual Super Squad competition. First Sergeant Massey served there until May 1989 and received orders to the School of Infantry Camp Lejeune, N.C.

In May 1989, Corporal Massey reported to the School of Infantry for duty with Company E, Marine Combat Training Battalion. While there, he served as a squad instructor and unit leader until December of 1991. Sergeant Massey then reported to Company A, Infantry Training Battalion and served as a squad leader until August of 1992. During August of that year, Sergeant Massey was re-assigned as a tactics instructor in the Battalion Tactics Training section until he received orders to 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines in June of 1993.

During the month of August 1993, Sergeant Massey transferred to Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe, Hawaii for duty with Company I, 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines as a Squad leader, Platoon guide, and Platoon Sergeant. During this tour, Sergeant Massey completed two unit deployments to Okinawa, Japan in 1994 and 1995 respectively.

In June of 1996, Sergeant Massey transferred to Marine Corps Recruiter School in San Diego, California. After graduation in August 1996, Sergeant Massey reported for duty with Marine Corps Recruiting Station, Columbia, South Carolina for duty with Recruiting Sub-station Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In December of 1996, Sergeant Massey was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant and served there until the successful completion of duty as a canvassing Recruiter until 1999.

In September of 1999, Staff Sergeant Massey transferred to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and was assigned as a Platoon Commander at the School of Infantry with Company C, Infantry Training Battalion. While there, he completed various school requirements and served there until his promotion to Gunnery Sergeant in August of 2001.

During the month of August 2001, Gunnery Sergeant Massey reported for duty with 2nd Battalion 2nd Marines as the Weapons Platoon Sergeant for Company G. During his tour with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, Gunnery Sergeant Massey also served as the Battalion Logistics Chief during Operation Iraqi Freedom and as the Company Gunnery Sergeant for Company G for Operation Iraqi Freedom II in Al Anbar Province, Iraq in the spring of 2004. In the fall of 2004 after returning from Iraq, Gunnery Sergeant Massey was selected, and promoted to the rank of First Sergeant and served briefly as the Company First Sergeant for Company G until February of 2005.

In February of 2005, First Sergeant Massey was reassigned to 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion for duty as the Company First Sergeant of Company C. In December of 2005 First Sergeant Massey was again reassigned as the Company First Sergeant for Company B, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion for preparation to deploy as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom 05-07/06-08 with 1st & 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force Forward in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. After returning to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in April of 2007, First Sergeant Massey received orders to MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina for duty as the senior enlisted advisor to the Commanding Officer of Fleet Readiness Center East.

First Sergeant Massey’s awards include: the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star and Combat “V” in lieu of second award, the Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star in lieu of third award and the Combat Action ribbon.

First Sergeant Massey is married to the former Heidi Lynn Arsenault of Dixiefield, Maine. They have six children; Christopher 20, Paula 17, Matthew 17, Kevin 14, Ashley 14 and Curtis 8. Sergeant Major Massey and his family reside in Jacksonville, NC.

“I entered the Marine Corps on 28 October 1985,” Massey said. “I was designated the 0311 Military Occupational Specialty - Infantry Rifleman. As the years progressed up until I became a First Sergeant, I served in the capacity of an Infantry Unit Leader, Instructor, Mentor, Teacher and Tactical Advisor as a Corporal, Sergeant, Staff Sergeant and Gunnery Sergeant respectively. Once making the rank of First Sergeant, I was transferred out of my field into the Assault Amphibian community. There I was the senior enlisted advisor to the Company Commander on all matters pertaining to the enlisted Marines. Also I from time to time I educated the young Marine Officers on reports and administrative procedures. At my current duty station I continue to advise and assist the Commanding Officer in the performance of his duties at the Fleet Readiness Center East, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point N.C. At my current command there are 38 Marines and over 4000 civilians. Those personnel bring aircraft from units out in the Fleet both off the battlefield and in garrison and rework and repair all components of the aircraft. The facility I currently work at is nothing more than an assembly line for helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. As matter of fact, the facility is the largest employer east of Interstate 95 in the state of North Carolina.”

“In combat operations, I was the Logistics chief for a reinforced Battalion of nearly 1000 Marines during Operation Iraqi Freedom I in 2003, supplying the Marines, delivering critical ammunition, food, water, handling and transporting enemy prisoners of war and assisting

the Logistics Officer in the performance of his duties. During Operation Iraqi Freedom II, I was the Company Gunnery Sergeant for a Company of 170 Marines in the Al Anbar Province and on a smaller scale I replenished my company combat forces with needed supplies, conducted day and night extractions and relief in place  of the Platoons and assisted

the Company Commander in the tactical decision making process, the tactical deployment of the Marines within my company, and assisted the Company First Sergeant in caring for the Marines and mentoring of the Staff Non-commissioned and Non-commissioned Officers. In Operation Iraqi Freedom 05-07 and 06-08, I was the Company First Sergeant for an

Amphibious Tractor Company and handled all enlisted matters in accordance with Marine Corps orders and directives. I assisted the Company Commander in the implementation of higher orders of the rules of engagement, the planning and decision making process for over 300 Marines and Sailors, and operated with the Marines in the western territories of Iraq near Al Fallujah.”

“As a Sergeant Major and once promoted soon, I will be the right arm of the Battalion or Squadron Commander. He and I will be the eyes and ears of all Marines in our unit. The Sergeant Major is the senior enlisted leader for the unit and guides the commanders in all issues pertaining to the Marines and Sailors. I still do not have know where I

am going at the moment so there is more to come as to where my next duty station will be.”

“Let me take a moment to thank all of the many groups of people, veterans, churches, family and friends for your support during my nearly 23 years of service to our God, Country and your Corps of Marines.”

“It has been a pleasure to serve you as a Marine ambassador to my county, the State of North Carolina and United States while serving in the United States Marine Corps. As I continue my service to this nation in peace and war, I will always strive to be the person my father and mother hoped for me to be. Through the stern leadership of my family as a young man, my many family members that served in the Armed Forces, told me that it is an honor to serve this nation as a member of the Armed Forces. Therefore, I will continue my service to at least the thirty-year threshold.”

“Over the years, while serving in almost every clime and place, I have met many people abroad who share the ideas of many of the American people. All they want is to be free. From the start of World War I to the Iraq War, we have helped many nations see the good side of democracy and what it has to offer a free people in a society where tyrants are disposed of and the rights of the people are restored in order to allow them to make decisions by a vote.”

“I am extremely proud to be a Marine and to serve the people of the United States. Although no man or woman wants to be in harms way, it is still the duty of a volunteer force to carry out the national security and strategic plans of the United States. Together, we the service members have a huge role to play in the protection of our country, our people and their way of life. Make no mistake, we all take our jobs personal and will defend to the last service member against anyone who threatens the United States.”

“As we move forward in a free society, we the services, demand justice for those who mean harm to our people such as the likes of that on September 11, 2001. We respect those warriors who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our nation in all wars. We must pass on to our youth the ideas of our fore fathers as our elders have handed down to us over the years. We must remain vigilant and steadfast in the war on terror and seek those out who mean harm to us. There must never be a division in the people or the government on whether or not we are doing the right thing. If we are to commit to war, we must commit totally and bring all involved to fair justice. If we divide as a nation on any war, then the enemy will exploit the very roots of the division among the people to accomplish their mission.”

“In summary, I ask that all of America to come together and help us finish the job we started just after the tragic events of 2001. We are the greatest country on the face of this earth. We sometimes seem to take it for granted the very freedom we all have because of those veterans who have died for the good of this nation. We are strong and must never waiver from the strength of a nation who has the best of all worlds.”