Call Sign "Raider 96"
by U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Bryann K. Whitley
December
5, 2019
Detroit native, born in 1923, Cpl. Leonard B. Turner enlisted in
the Marine Corps in 1942 following the example of two of his
brothers who had already signed up for World War II military duty
ahead of him; Bob via the Coast Guard and Bill through the Marine
Corps.
“I enlisted when I became age eligible with the signed
permission of my parents, to join the fight to preserve our American
way of life,” recalled Turner. “I chose the Marines because of their
history, legacy, reputation and training. I felt that my best chance
for victory and survival would be with the Marines. Of note, I would
be remiss to not mention the uniform!”
Turner served under
Lt. Col. Evan F. Carlson on New Caledonia; was sent to Guadalcanal,
Efate, and Espiritu Santo; and was a part of the first waves during
the battles of Bougainville, Guam and Okinawa. After the war was
over, Turner returned to his hometown of Detroit and served in a
supervisory capacity at General Motors Headquarters, retiring after
42 years.
 Top
Images - On November 2, 2019 ... 96-year-old World War II
veteran and Marine Raider Cpl. Leonard B. Turner wearing in authentic
1945-1948 Marine Corps dress blues with original regalia,
being the oldest Marine present at Marine Forces Special
Operations Command’s 244th Marine Corps Birthday Ball,
receives the second piece of birthday cake from Commanding
General Daniel D. Yoo.
Bottom Images -
Detroit native, born in 1923, Cpl. Leonard B. Turner
enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1942 following the example
of two of his brothers, who had already signed up for World
War II military duty ahead of him. The 96-year-old War World
II veteran and Marine Raider, affectionately nicknamed
“Raider 96,” served with 2nd Marine Raider Battalion. He
served under Lt. Col. Evan F. Carlson on New Caledonia; was
sent to Guadalcanal, Efate, and Espiritu Santo; and was a
part of the first waves during the battles of Bougainville,
Guam and Okinawa. After the surrender of Japan, Turner
served as a Military Policeman on the Island of Ryukyu,
Japan.
Image of
WWII veteran and Marine Cpl. Leonard Turner created by USA Patriotism! from courtesy photos
provided by U.S. Marine Corps and Leonard Turner.
|
Appearing in authentic 1945-1948 Marine Corps dress blues with
his original regalia, Turner marched into the ballroom behind the
traditional birthday cake as the slow version of the Marines Hymn
played, during the Marine Forces Special Operations Command’s 244th
Marine Corps Birthday Ball in Wilmington, N.C., Nov. 2, 2019.
Turner, a 96-year-old World War II veteran and Marine Raider,
affectionately nicknamed “Raider 96,” served with 2nd Marine Raider
Battalion and was the oldest Marine in attendance at the ceremony.
He stood proud and tall as he was announced as the oldest Marine
present and generations of Marines responded, without hesitation,
with a standing ovation as Turner passed a piece of birthday cake to
the youngest Marine present, 19-year-old Pfc. Ivan K. Lopez.
“The experience was humbling and exhilarating,” remarked Turner. “It
filled me with a sense of great honor and pride to be a part of this
timed-honored tradition, allowing me to pass the torch to the
youngest Marine, who in fact is actually from 2nd [Marine] Raider
Battalion, as was I, over 75 years ago. It ranked high on my life’s
most memorable events, along with the announcement of Japan’s
surrender in World War II, my wedding day, the births of my daughter
and my son, and my retirement day from General Motors.”
Every year, each Marine Corps unit comes together and hosts a
Marine Corps Birthday cake cutting to celebrate one more year since
the birth of their Corps. This celebration is an event that brings
together Marines, old and young - enlisted and retired, and allows
them to celebrate their commitment and dedication to the Marine
Corps and strengthen their camaraderie and organizational esprit de
corps. Throughout the ball, different Marine Corps traditions are
upheld, paying homage to the organizations’ heritage.
“You
can’t force heritage, it just happens,” said Master Gunnery Sgt.
Otto E. Hecht, the senior enlisted leader at MARSOC’s Marine Raider
Training Center. “Heritage is the result of the people, artifacts,
symbols and traditions that have been provided by those that served
before us. Our heritage defines who we are and shapes where we are
going as Marines. [The ball is] a time of reflection on our past
accomplishments combined with our newest generation of Marines and
their contributions that make our future both exciting and
meaningful.”
This connection between the past and present can
be seen throughout many traditions during the Marine Corps ball and
is the foundation of this event each year. One such tradition is the
passing of birthday cake from the oldest Marine to the youngest
Marine, which represents the passing of experience and knowledge
from older generations to the newest generation of Marines. The
birthday cake is traditionally cut with the Mameluke sword, to honor
Lieutenant Presley O’Bannon’s assault of Derna, Tripoli in 1805, as
a reminder that Marines are a band of warriors, committed to
carrying the sword, so that the nation may live in peace.
“The ceremonial formalities along with the reading of our 13th
Commandant’s message reminds us all of our Marine Corps heritage;
however, the ball is not just about that,” commented MGySgt. Anthony
Guisao, MARSOC’s SOF senior enlisted advisor. “Along with reminding
us of our past, the ball allows us to view who we are in the
present. The reading of the present Commandant of the Marine Corps’
message also provides insight as to where he envisions the Marine
Corps going towards the future.”
Turner explained that his
favorite experience at the ball was shaking the hands of the younger
Marines. The opportunity to meet the Commandant of the Marine Corps,
General David H. Berger, and his wife, Donna, who were in attendance
as the Guests of Honor at the MARSOC Ball was, as Turner described
it, “the icing on the cake!” He was moved by the reverence and
respect shown to him by the Marines and the interest in his
experience in the Marine Corps. Due to the time in our country’s
history that Turner was enlisted, most of his cherished memories
involved the time he spent making memories with friends, with his
most cherished being when the announcement rang out that the
Japanese had surrendered.
“I would say that I went into the
Marines a mere teen and left an old man,” said Turner. “The Marine
Raiders had defined me. They set me up for life’s battles and
challenges with skills of leadership, organization, morality,
steadfastness, patience and discipline- not to mention I’m still
pretty good with that machete around my yard!”
The term
Raider can’t be used alone. It must be preceded by “Marine” because
that is what Marine Raiders are first and foremost- Marines,
mentioned Hecht. The warfighting principles current Marine Raiders
use in Special Operations comes from their foundation in Marine
Ethos and Core Values - there is not one without the other.
“Too often people, in general, tend to identify themselves as what
they do instead of who they are – Marine Raiders are no different,”
remarked Guisao. “As the younger generation of Marines assimilate
into the MARSOC culture, it is the senior Marine Raiders’
responsibility to continue inculcating Marine Corps values into
them. ‘Marines are who we are and Special Operations is what we do’
is not just a catch phrase, it’s a constant reminder for all Marine
Raiders to never forget their identities as U.S. Marines. This is
also a reminder to the Marine Corps writ large that Marine Raiders
have not forgotten where they came from and continue to be proud of
who they are, U.S. Marines.”
When asked to share a story from
his time during the war, Turner reflected on his time when assigned
to 6th Marine Division. During this time, a fellow 6th Division
Marine told him that they were the lucky ones. Many of their
military brothers had given up their todays so that Turner and those
who survived would have their tomorrows.
“This is my legacy,
my story,” revealed Turner. “So, young men and women, as far as
stories go, you will have to make up your own story. You have been
given the chance to create a story of courage, strength, honesty,
morality, leadership, and compassion that you will carry with you to
your end of days.”
The U.S. Marines |
Marines - The Few, The Proud |
Our Valiant Troops |
Veterans |
Citizens Like Us
U.S. Marines Gifts |
U.S. Marine Corps |
U.S.
Department of Defense
|
|