That afternoon....
Rodney was so excited and deservedly so--- he was about to be pinned with his "FMF pin", which is a BIG deal!!! The Fleet Marine Force pin can only be earned by Navy personnel when forward deployable with Marines. They have to study, take tests (both physical and paper!), then sit before a board and answer questions proving they know "all things Marine", both of the overall Marine corps, as well as the unit to which they are attached. It shows the Marines he works with, he cares enough to learn about all they do.
(For more information on the FMF pin, this is a decent article:
The ceremony begins with the CO making a few remarks.
Then, I got to pin him! And I didn't poke him at all!
Next, comes the award certificate (proof of ownership!).
Rodney had his turn for remarks before the CO closed the ceremony leading a round of applause.
Then, it was time for congratulations and photos!
Our friends, Dan and Megan, were there which had extra-special meaning for Rodney.
One of the times we went over to the Bailey's for dinner, they had invited some neighbors to eat, too. When we got there, Rodney walked in the door before me and the next thing I hear is, "Oh, my gosh!!!!" Turns out, these neighbors of the Baileys were Dan and Megan. See, the thing is, Dan was one of the Marines being carried to the Persian Gulf on the USS Dubuque when Rodney was the Chaplain!! They spent some time together enroute and now serving together on Okinawa, the proof as to how small the military world is!!
It only made sense to enjoy a celebratory dinner with them!
Rodney's choice was Yakiniku where you cook it yourself at your table--- oishii-ne!!
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