Leatherneck Magazine - October 2008

BASES, STATIONS & VETERANS
We—the Marines
Edited by Sara Wirtala Bock
Marine Barracks’ Mascot
Retires From Duty

■ Sergeant Chesty XII’s six-year tenure as the official mascot of Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., cametoanendduringa retirementceremonyat“8thand I” July25.

Approximately 100 guests were on hand for the ceremony, which featured “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, “The Commandant’s Own” United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Silent Drill Platoon. The 6-year- old mascot and his successor, Private First Class Chesty XIII, sat abreast on center walk as the Marines in attendance honored their service to the Corps.

Chesty XII, a fawn and white pedigree English bulldog who enlisted in the Marine Corps on March 30, 2002, will spend his retirement years at home with his ca retakers, Gunnery Sergeant Michael Mergen and his wife, GySgt Kristin Mergen, who are members of the Marine Band. (See “ ‘Chesty’: The Most Beloved Marine,” Leatherneck, June 2007.)

Duringhissix-yearcareer, whichmarks

the longest tour in Barracks’ mascot history, Chesty XII made an appearance at every Evening Parade and participated in several other events in the National Capital Region, most notably the Marine Band”s “Music in the Schools” series. For his devotion to duty, Chesty XII was awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

“After every parade, Chesty XII sat patiently as he was photographed a myriad of times with children and other guests of the Barracks,” said Colonel W. Blake Crowe, the commanding officer of MBW, after presenting the award to Chesty. “We owe him some much-deserved compensation time and leave, which he’ll get the chancetoburnduringthenextfewmonths.”

Chesty XII’s retirement marked his first leave in six years. The break gives him a chance to do some of his favorite things, which include taking naps and playing with small toys and basketballs, according to GySgt Michael Mergen.

“He’s a handful,” Mergen said. “Our daughterslovetoplay withhim, andthey”re

glad he’s retiring, because they’ll have more time to spend with him.”

Now that Chesty XII has been relieved of his duties as the Barracks’ mascot, he can go back to being an ordinary bulldog. However, if the 1-year-old Chesty XIII cannot live up to the expectations and standards of the job, Chesty XII will be called back to duty until a new mascot is found. But for now, he can kick his legs out, chew on his favorite toy and take pride in his service.

As the Marine Band concluded the Friday ceremony with the performance of the Scottish song “Auld Lang Syne,” Chesty XII officially marched off center walk for the last time. Although the song includes the phrase “Should old acquaintance be forgot,” Chesty XII’s service to country and Corps will always be remembered.

LCpl Chris Dobbs

PAO, Marine Barracks Washington, D.C.

LCPL CHRIS DOBBS

Col W. Blake Crowe, commanding officer of Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., pins the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal on Sgt Chesty XII, the Barracks’ former mascot, during his retirement ceremony July 25.

COMPTUEX Prepares 26th MEU
For Deployment

■ Six months after the major subordinate elements of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit joined to form the 2,200-strong Marine air-ground task force, the unit completed the last of its major training exercises. The Composite Training Unit Exercise, known as COMPTUEX, took place in July on board the ships of Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group off the coast of Jacksonville, N.C.

Instead of the usual Marine expeditionary certification exercise, or CERTEX, the COMPTUEX served as the exercise validating 26th MEU’s combat readiness for deployment.

Almost all Marines and sailors belonging to the 26th MEU, including the command element;theaviationcombatelement, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 264 (Reinforced); the ground combat element, Battalion Landing Team 2d Bn, Sixth Marine Regiment; and the logistics combat element, Combat Logistics Bn 26, along with all their equipment, were loaded aboard USS Iwo Jima (LHD- 7), USS San Antonio (LPD- 17) and USS Carter Hall (LSD-50), in order to properly simulate a deployed environment.