U.S. NAVAL STATION PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii -- The Marine Corps’ tradition of professionalism and training to execute with perfection earned 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment the honor of providing arrival honors for the Chief of Naval Operations, May 8.
The Navy requested 1/12 to provide the 19-gun salute during the United States Pacific Fleet change-of-command ceremony at U.S. Naval Station Pearl Harbor.
Navy Capt. Jim Dolin, officer in charge of the ceremony, said, “I wanted the Marines’ sharp appearance and professionalism for this special occasion, and they brought it with them, and how.”
Each Marine, 105 mm round and M101A1 Howitzer was perfectly aligned and ready for the salute to Admiral Michael G. Mullen, U.S. Navy Chief of Operations, during the change of command ceremony for Admirals Gary Roughead, Commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet and Robert F. Willard, who relieved Roughead.
“The Marines started preparing for this two weeks ago, and they did an excellent job,” said Gunnery Sgt. Iuni Amperosa, 1/12 field artillery chief. “It’s a special honor for them to represent the Marine Corps and 1/12 and provide the salute to these commanders.”
Most of 1/12 is currently deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Some of the Marines participating didn’t have enough time left on their active duty contract to deploy with their unit one last time.
“I’m getting out soon, so this is a great opportunity at the end of my tour,” said Cpl. Guiliano Alano, 1/12 section chief. He chuckled, “I get to go out with a bang.”