|
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
|
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 |
