USA Patriotism! ... "Showcasing Pride of America"USA Store! ... American / Patriotic themed gift products at USA Patriotism!

Home - Articles - USA's Birth - Great Patriots - Heroes - Honor Halls - Music - Photos
Poems - Quotes - Reference - Speeches - Stars for Troops - Stories - Student Patriots
Videos - New Content
- About - Contact - Submit - Press
- CureNow - Donate
- Privacy

Click Here To Google Search
 For USA Patriotism! Content
USA Patriotism! YouTube Channel Join / Like the USA Patriotism! Facebook pagePinterestLinkedInUSA Patriotism! Instagram ChannelUSA Patriotism! On TwitterUSA Patriotism! at Flickr

Patriotic Article
Military

Collectibles, apparel, and other gifts ... for Marines, Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, and veterans! Checks with USA, military, and other patriotic designs Free Gifts from The Bradford Exchange Online

Sailor Loves To Deploy For His Navy
by USMC Cpl. Ed Galo - January 19, 2012

American Flag Western Boots

Checks with USA, military, and other patriotic designs

USA, military, and other patriotic themed pullover and button down Polo shirts

Tough Tex American Flags

Telescoping flagpole with free American Flag

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, Afghanistan (1/12/2012) - After nearly 11 years of active duty service in the Navy and five deployments, Petty Officer 1st Class George Fricke, lead petty officer, Regimental Combat Team 6, still loves every day he puts on a uniform.

Petty Officer 1st Class George Fricke teaches a class to his junior sailors to help them earn their Fleet Marine Force badge on Jan. 12, 2012. The badge is awarded to sailors who pass a series of written and verbal tests on Marine Corps knowledge, various weapons systems, land navigation and structure. Photo by USMC Cpl. Ed Galo
Petty Officer 1st Class George Fricke teaches a class to his junior sailors to help them earn their Fleet Marine Force badge on Jan. 12, 2012. The badge is awarded to sailors who pass a series of written and verbal tests on Marine Corps knowledge, various weapons systems, land navigation and structure. Photo by USMC Cpl. Ed Galo

Working alongside Marines for most of his career, Fricke, a corpsman, has deployed many times. He went to Kuwait in 2003 with Medical Logistics Company, Supply Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. Then in the spring of 2004 he deployed to Haiti in support of Operation Secure Tomorrow.

In 2005 he received orders to Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Fla., eventually deploying again to Iraq in 2008, with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. In April of 2009 he went back to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. from where he deployed to Afghanistan for the first time, with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment.

“Taking care of Marines is my passion” said Fricke, a native of St. Augustine, Fla., “Now (my job) is about making sure my sailors are taken care of and ready to take care of Marines.”

Those who work alongside Fricke have nothing but good things to say about him

“HM1 will drop anything he is doing to help you,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class James Vanzella, religious program specialist, RCT-6. “I have never seen a first class do so much for his sailors. All he wants is greatness for his (hospital men) and (religious program specialists).”

According to Fricke, he always wanted to be a Marine. But since the Marines don't have any medical fields, he enlisted in the Navy to become a corpsman.

“I've developed a love for the Navy since joining,” he added with a smile. “I love the history and the traditions. Being in the Navy as a corpsman and working with Marines is a unique brotherhood and sense of pride.”

Fricke said he always wanted to serve his country and plans to retire from the navy after reaching his 20 year mark.

“I want to become a high school teacher when I get out (of the Navy),” he said. “Teachers don't usually make a lot of money so it will be good knowing I can rely on the benefits you get from the military after serving for 20 years. I'll be able to live a little more comfortably.”

Fricke currently has an associate's degree from Florida State College at Jacksonville in general education and he also has some teaching certificates.

“I'm still undecided on history, math or ROTC,” he said “I enjoy teaching. I've taught emergency medical technicians and I teach the corpsmen here in regards to medical procedures.”

Fricke says he's unsure if he wants to stay in North Carolina when he becomes a teacher or if he wants to go back to Florida.

“Me and my wife both like North Carolina,” Fricke said. “But we're both from Florida. That's where I met her – in Florida at a Jacksonville Jaguars game.

“I even proposed to her at a Jaguar game on the big screen,” he added with a soft smile.

Fricke said he proposed to his wife at the same game he met at her years earlier: Jaguars vs. Colts.

“It came on at half time and I said ‘Hey Christie, look at that'!” According to Fricke the screen read “Christie Green, join my team.”

I dropped to one knee and pulled out a Jaguars Jersey with my name on it,” Fricke said. “She had a family ring locked up in a vault and I didn't want to ask her for the combination to the lock because then she would suspect something. I totally surprised her with the proposal.”

“I definitely miss and love my family and can't wait to be back with my wife and son.”

By USMC Cpl. Ed Galo
Regimental Combat Team 6
Provided through DVIDS
Copyright 2012

Comment on this article

USA Gifts Store! ... over 1,000 American / Patriotic themed products at USA Patriotism! USA / Americana theme ... polo shirts, t-shirts, shorts, hats, caps, swimwear, sweatshirts, hoodies, hats, jackets, under garments, and other apparel items American Pride: Poems Honoring America and Her Patriots! by David G. Bancroft