Leatherneck Magazine - October 2008

ing the Vietnam War. Immediately following his retirement in 1995, Captain Jack joined the San Diego Padres organization. Under Captain Jack”s direction, Marines, sailors, soldiers, U.S. Coast Guard personnel and Department of Defense civilians, all are a cause for celebration. For the Padres, this day’s tribute is more than a single special experience;it”sacontinuingevent. The Padres organization was the first professional sports team to fly the POW/MIA flags at all home games. On Sunday home games, Padres’ uniforms include camouflage baseball jerseys. The senior drill instructor, Staff Sergeant Kyle Hall, drill instructors SSgt Shannon Haynes and SSgt Randy Hubert and Plt 2110 have joined other DIs and recruits from Echo Co to fill almost an L t C o l J er r y C ol e m a n, U S M C ( R e t ), c o m b a t M a r in e in t wo entire section of the park. As they wars, second baseman on some of the greatest professional enter the rows of seats, the DIs baseball teams and Padres radio play-by-play broadcaster, and recruits receive loud cheers continues to support the Corps. from the 30,000 fans; 300 individuals in camouflage utilities make for an impressive sight. One recruit’s mother seated in a nearby section will phone her family in Portland, Ore., and say how appreciative she was of the fans’ response to the DIs and recruits and how proud she felt.

Private Justin King is from Beeville, Texas, a small town 80 miles southeast of San Antonio. Although he claims no attachment to the Padres or baseball, a day at PETCO Park and

away from MCRD is a worthy celebration. Although Pvt William Simmons of Ashley, Mich., and Private First Class Daniel Spykerman of Kalamazoo, Mich., are fans of the Detroit Tigers, they will join all others in the “wave” each time it passes. But these cheers accompanying the “wave” will be done the Marine way … with an “Oorah!”

Some baseball fans enjoy watching the game from their seats and

simultaneously hearing the game
via audio player. At PETCO
Park, they’ll hear play-by-play
broadcaster and former Marine
pilot Jerry Coleman.
Coleman played second base
and shortstop for the New York
Yankees (1949-57). He also was
a Marine second lieutenant who
flew 57 combat missions during
World War II. He flew another
63 combat missions during the
Korean War. He retired as a
lieutenant colonel in 1964, and
he is the only former Major
League player to have seen
combat in two wars.
Both radio and TV broadcasters
will make the Marines’ presence
at PETCO known to their audi-
ences. A special fourth-inning
stretch featuring “The Marines’
Hymn” will bring much adula-
tion, and as “oorahs” reverberate
across the stadium, civilians smile
and understand it”s a Marine thing.
Patriotism is only a word, but
for the Padres, attaching it to an
act has made the word a reality.

Editor’s note: As a Leatherneck contributing editor, Ed Vasgerdsian frequently travels to visit Marine se- curity guard detachments around the world, describing their duties and re- sponsibilities for our readers. We ap- preciate this tribute to a great sports organization.

Padres CEO Sandy Alder son Makes Things Happen

Richard “Sandy” Alderson is a Vietnam War Marine veteran and a Harvard Law School graduate. On April 19, 2005, Alderson became chief executive officer of the San Diego Padres. Prior to that, he engineered the Oakland Athletics into building a team that reached three straight World Series from 1988 to 1990, including a World Championship in 1989.

On a wall inside his office is a plaque titled the “Marine Corps Bond.” Inscribed thereon: “Wherever you go in this world and in life you will find other Marines who will help you on your way. They are your brothers, comrades in arms in life and in death. They will care for and keep you, as you will also do for them and others. This is our sacred bond and duty to our Marine brothers.”

Perhaps it is this Marine Corps bond that often prompts Alderson to ask the Padres director of military marketing, Captain Jack Ensch, USN (Ret), “Is there anything more we can do for our military?”