MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Just a few minutes talking about Staff Sgt. Jimmie Senn could turn the dour faces of those mourning him into faces of joy and elation. The man had that effect on people.
He played many roles: a father, a husband, a coach, a teacher and a Marine, and did all of the roles admirably, leaving behind many memories for his friends and family.
At max capacity, Marines, sailors, civilians, family and friends attended the memorial of Senn at an auditorium in Camp Johnson, Jan. 27, who passed away due to severe head trauma, Jan. 14.
“Anyone can tell you he was just fun,” said his wife, B.J. Senn. “He laughed every day.”
His friends remember the time he spent with his family. Staff Sgt. Corey Cooper, one of Senn’s longtime friends, remembers looking over to Senn’s house, when they were neighbors, and finding him scrawling on the driveway using sidewalk chalk with his young daughters. He remembers seeing him during the evenings riding bicycles with them.
Staff Sgt. Raymond Riddle, another longtime friend and an instructor who taught medium tactical vehicle replacement alongside Senn with Marine Combat Service Support Schools’ Motor Transport Maintenance Instructional Company, said Senn was a caring and compassionate man.
“He was all about his family,” said Riddle. “(They) were his priority over everything else.”
Senn spent his time fishing, barbecuing, watching sports and coaching his children’s sports team. He received a trophy for his efforts as the Jones County Crush football teams coach last year, added B.J. He also helped in off-season camps and was looking forward to being head coach this year.
He was a teacher and a mentor outside of the football field as well.
“He was an excellent instructor,” said Gunnery Sgt. Gregory McKinney, a motor maintenance transport chief with MCCSSS. “He wanted to pass his knowledge and experiences to the younger Marines.”
Riddle said Senn was dedicated to teaching. He helped Marines who had done something wrong rather than putting them down, emulating discipline is not what you do to someone, rather what you do for someone.
“He always said, ‘Let me help you and we’ll get this done right,’” said Riddle.
Senn was devoted to his life as a Marine. He spent 16 years in the Marine Corps and has deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He had no intention of leaving.
“He wanted to stay in the Marine Corps until the day they made him leave,” said B.J. “That was the plan.”
Even when he found challenges with the Marine Corps, he remained dedicated.
“He thought that if it was worth it to enlist once, it was worth doing it again and again,” said Riddle. “If it was tough he said, ‘Stick with it and it will turn out good in the end.’”
Equal to his love for the Marine Corps was his love for the Green Bay Packers. Every discussion about him, throughout the speeches during the memorial service and, every conversation held after, inevitably led to his love of football and the Green Bay Packers.
“I remember we were sitting around once talking about football,” said Riddle. “He looked at me and he said, ‘One day, when I die I’m going to look up at Jesus and say, ‘Hey, I’m here to play football with Vince Lombardi on heaven’s field,’” said Riddle. “I’ll always remember that.”