Marines

Photo Information

Sgt. John A. Blansett Jr., a Wounded Warrior Battalion-East Marine, receives food from a Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Chapter 15-4 member during the chapter’s Fall Wounded Warrior Pig Pickin’ Cookout behind the WWBn barracks, Aug. 29. Some of the CVMA members who helped organize the cookout rode their motorcycles from Fayetteville, N.C., to meet and share stories with the service members.

Photo by Cpl. Charles Clark

Veterans pay it forward to Wounded Warrior Battalion

29 Aug 2013 | Cpl. Charles Clark Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

When retired Master Sgt. Huchi T. Huchi, Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Chapter 15-4 commander, was a private, he did not have enough money to fly home for Christmas.

A female friend of Huchi’s paid for a roundtrip ticket for him with the only catch being he pay the selfless good deed forward someday.

“She was in the same position I was in her first year of service too, and a Marine paid for her trip just as she had paid for mine. That’s just Marines watching out for Marines,” said Huchi. “With what my guys and I do for the Marines these days, I think we’re paying it forward.”

More than a dozen members of the CVMA Chapter 15-4 hosted their Fall Wounded Warrior Pig Pickin’ Cookout for more than 150 Marines, sailors and staff of Wounded Warrior Battalion-East behind the battalion’s barracks aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Aug. 29.

Local Jacksonville businesses also donated money or food for the cookout, ensuring lunch was free for the service members and staff of WWBn.

Some of the CVMA members who helped organize the cookout rode their motorcycles from Fayetteville, N.C., to meet and share stories with the service members.

Cpl. Jorge H. Ramirez, a Marine with WWBn, has been at WWBn since March and said the event made him aware the local community is always thinking of and caring about the Marines and sailors.

CVMA members served WWBn Marines, sailors and staff the food and thanked all of them for their service and sacrifices made to their country and fellow service members.

“I served 25 years in the Marine Corps,” said Huchi. “I tried to always do the right thing in the Marine Corps and now that I’m out, I continue to try and do the right thing. I think if I can give these guys some good memories and put some good in their lives, then I’m doing the right thing.”

As the event winded down, the CVMA members gave hugs and handshakes to all who attended.

“This was a really fun day, and I got to meet some great guys and listen to their stories about the old Corps,” said Ramirez. “I’m looking forward to the next time I can hang out with these guys again.”

For more information about upcoming CVMA events, visit www.combatvet.org.

For more information about Wounded Warrior Battalion-East, visit www.woundedwarriorregiment.org.

Additional information regarding Camp Lejeune can be found at:  GPLUS.TO/CAMP.LEJEUNE

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