CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii -- Sergeant Maj. James Roberts, Jr., Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, passes the battalion colors to inbound Col. Al Thoma at Bordelon Field Aug. 7.
The relatively short, yet concise, change of command might have left out long speeches, but the appreciation and heart-felt sentiment remained as Lt.Col. John Sharkeys but the , outgoing battalion commander, thanked not only his guest Marines standing at attention in the sporadic drizzle.
"I think of all of you as family, especially all the Marines who come and support us - I want you all to know how much it means," Sharkey said.
During his roughly six-month tour as battalion commander, Sharkey stressed the importance of family oriented events - facilitating the coordinating efforts to promote camaraderie throughout the unit.
After a Marine presented Sharkey’s wife of more than 20 years, Sharon, with a bouquet of flowers, Thoma took the microphone and said he was enthusiastic about coming to MarForPac, and looked forward to working with the Marines here.