Service Impacts Marines Then and Now
(July 24, 2010) |
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Sgt. Richard D. Cunningham and Lance Cpl. Keith Padgett
first met each other as drill instructor and recruit.
Padgett was the Company honor graduate for Cunningham.
Twenty one years later, now Sgt. Maj. Cunningham, sergeant
major, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, has 2,300 Marines
under his charge. Cunningham's service has impacted Padgett
and many other Marines during his 27-year career.
(Courtesy
photo - July 20, 2010) |
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ON BOARD USS PELELIU, At Sea (July 20, 2010) - Men and women
join the Marines everyday from all over the country.
Regardless of their background or where they come from,
their motivation to join comes from a handful of similar
goals or aspirations. When Sgt. Maj. Richard D. Cunningham,
15th Marine Expeditionary Unit graduated from high school,
he wondered where life was going to lead him.
Fortunately, life led him to lead Marines.
Cunningham grew up in New Richmond, Wis., a small, blue
collar farming community where family, friends, and hard
work are the foundation for success.
“I came from a big family, three brothers and four sisters.
My Dad was a truck driver and my mom was a stay at home
type,” said Cunningham. “I started working as a farm hand at
an early age and gradually worked my way up to working in a
hardware store in town when I turned 16.”
A couple of years later, Cunningham found himself at a
crossroad familiar to many.
“I didn't know what I wanted to do,” stated Cunningham.
“Essentially I had one of three choices. |
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Join the service, go to college, or work on the farm,” he
added. |
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None of his family members attended college. However, there
was a resounding sense of patriotism throughout his home and
community. And he was surrounded by men who understood what
it meant to serve their country.
“My father served in the Army during WWII, and my two
brothers served in the Army, one of which served in
Vietnam.” said Cunningham.
After consulting his brothers about the U.S. Army,
Cunningham approached his guidance counselor, who was a
former Marine.
Cunningham, who was impressed by the attention-to-detail and
precision of Marines, wasted little time making a decision.
He joined the Marines.
It didn't take long for Cunningham to begin idolizing the
Marine drill instructors.
“The way they carried themselves was inspiring,” said
Cunningham. “I made it a goal to become a drill instructor.”
he added.
Five years into his career, Cunningham achieved his goal and
found himself training recruits at Marine Corps Recruit
Depot, San Diego.
The Corps had come full circle for Cunningham.
Keith W. Padgett, a 41-year-old personal trainer and
stay-at-home father, is one of many influenced by Cunningham
during his tenure as a drill instructor. Padgett, who kept
in touch with Cunningham during his time as a Marine, lost
touch with his former drill instructor.
A former Marine corporal who served from 1989-1993, Padgett
recently contacted Cunningham 20 years after their two lives
crossed paths at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego.
“I'm constantly trying to find guys, being a Marine is
something that I carry with me still, and always will,” said
Padgett. “Cunningham was just a little more special than the
rest,” he added.
However, their reunion will probably be a little more
pleasant than their first encounter.
“On the day that we picked up our drill instructors,
[Cunningham] lost his voice from screaming so much,” said
Padgett. “He was mean and a lot of the guys hated him.”
Cunningham was just one of the drill instructors assigned to
Padgett's platoon. But he stood out in the eyes of Padgett.
“As a drill instructor, Sgt. Cunningham was a demon, a
maniac with all of the Marine wisdom,” said Padgett. “I
learned from him how to be a Marine,” added Padgett.
Padgett went on to graduate from recruit training as the
Company Honor Man, the highest possible achievement by any
recruit, and credits Cunningham for his success.
“He continually railed against complacency and resting on
your laurels," said Padgett.
Despite the hundreds of Marines he's led and countless
memories as a Marine, when shown a picture of the two on
graduation day in 1989, Cunningham knew exactly who it was.
“That's Padgett!” said Cunningham with a smile.
Padgett's accomplishment as the Company Honor Man wasn't
forgotten by Cunningham either.
“[Padgett] stood out amongst his fellow recruits. He had a
military presence and excelled. He was like a sponge,
retaining everything he was taught,” said Cunningham.
Cunningham was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement
Medal for his role in making 400 new Marines as a drill
instructor. Two decades and hundreds of Marines later,
Cunningham realizes he found his calling as a Marine while
he was a drill instructor.
“After I received my [award] for my successful tour as a
drill instructor, I knew I had a knack for leading Marines,”
said Cunningham.
Cunningham is now in his 27th year as a Marine and has 2,300
Marines under his charge. He achieved the highest possible
enlisted rank, and recently received his ninth Good Conduct
Medal, a medal received on a triennial basis for honorable
service.
For Padgett, learning his former drill instructor is now a
sergeant major came as no surprise.
“Of all of the Marines that I have known, he would be the
one to do it,” said Padgett. “If he retires at 30, try and
let me know. I'd like to try and make it to the party.”
Padgett's desire to track down Cunningham 20 years after
their lives crossed paths illustrates the life-long bond
created between Marines.
“It's a good feeling to know I had such an impact on
Padgett. Padgett was successful as a Marine and I know he
applies what he learned to his life now,” added Cunningham.
A trait Cunningham attributes to his parent's work ethic,
leadership is the focal point of his position now as a
sergeant major.
“We're so much smaller [than the other branches] and our
style of leadership is what sets us apart,” said Cunningham.
“Marines have a tradition of excellence and we can't drop
the torch,” he added emphatically.
For now though, Cunningham continues to leave his mark,
leading Marines now just as he did then.
“Sgt. Maj. Cunningham leads by example,” said Col. Roy A.
Osborn, Commanding Officer, 15th MEU. “As my senior enlisted
advisor I rely on his experience to maintain the Marine
Corps' high standards and unit cohesion. And I agree whole
heartedly with Mr. Padgett when he says, there is no resting
on your laurels with Sgt. Maj. Cunningham.”
The ripple effect of his decision to join the Marines will
impact the Corps and Marines forever.
“Marines are more connected than most. Sgt. Maj. Cunningham
made that kind of impression on every recruit he trained to
include Keith Padgett,” said Osborn. “Sgt. Maj. Cunningham
carries himself with a polished, professional bearing that
is infectious to those around him. There are young Marines
on this deployment who will remember him 20 years from now.
That is the type of Marine Sgt. Maj. Cunningham was 20 years
ago and the Marine he is today.”
Cunningham is currently deployed aboard the amphibious
assault ship USS Peleliu during a routine deployment in the
Western Pacific. |
Article by USMC SSgt. Kenneth Lewis
15th Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs
Copyright 2010 | |
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