Commissioning Ceremony Aboard USS Midway

Commissioning Ceremony Aboard USS Midway

On December 20, 2008, my family and I was fortunate enough to witness the commissioning of our son SSgt. Clayton Anderson to Second Lieutenant, aboard the USS Midway, San Diego, CA. (Pictured above is our son and his mother prior to the commissioning ceremony.) Second Lieutenant Anderson’s Marine Corps service started on Jan. 14, 2002 at Parris Island, SC and soon after on to the School of Infantry (SOI). He was then assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton California. During his first 4 year enlistment his Unit was deployed 3 separate times to Iraq. In March of 2003, 1/5 was spearheading the initial invasion of Iraq and later into Baghdad. In Dec. of 03 and into 04, Cpl. Anderson served as squad leader during the battle of Fallujah, and in 2005, Sgt. Anderson became part of the 1/5 Scout/Snipers and deployed to the city of Ramadi. 2nd Lt. Anderson was then accepted into the MECEP program, and graduated from California State University, San Marcos with a B.A. in Communications in Dec. of 2008. Following commissioning, 2nd Lt. Anderson will be attending The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia. His personal decorations include the Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy Commendation Medal w/Combat ‘V’, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal w/Bronze Star, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and Iraqi Campain Medal. The newly commissioned officers who were pinned at this cememony included five other prior service Marines, and eleven others, made up of ensigns in the Navy and Second Lieutenants in the Army and Air Force. It was truly a joyous occassion for the hundreds of parents, friends, and guest who attended.

Semper Fi,
J. T. Anderson,
Cpl. USMC,71-73.