Corporal Christian Barthelette
SuicideCharley 7/94 to 9/97
0331 Machine Gunner Weapons Platoon

I arrived in 29Palms after an abbreviated tour in Bangor, WA as an 8152 (security forces). I believe 1/7 had just returned from Okinawa and was on leave when I arrived. Just like any new guy, it took a little while to get adjusted, but I was accepted into the family like I had been there for 10 years.

In my time there, we did several CAX trainings and 2 JTF missions, both with the DEA and Immigration. We deployed to Okinawa on February 2006. We boarded the USS Fort McHenry in Sasebo, Japan and departed for Okinawa to pick up the battalion. We then made stops in Hong-Kong, and Thailand (Pattaya) for Cobra Gold 2006. After returning home, I served the rest of my tour stateside.

As time has passed, my love for the corps has grown. The opportunity to belong to such a unique and elite company of Marines is something to cherish forever. Although I do not know any of the Marines currently assigned to SuicideCharley, I pray for their safe return home and hope they uphold the tradition that their predecessors created. As the certificate states when you transfer or are discharged, the name will be forever attached to your own! Semper Fi

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