USA Patriotism! ... Patriotic Article > Twenty-Nine Years As An Active Marine by U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Ryan Ramsammy

Twenty-Nine Years As An Active Marine
by U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Ryan Ramsammy
May 2, 2023

The title of Marine is an honor that many Marines hold dear to their hearts, even going so far as to do a full 20-year tour of service, if not more. Master Gunnery Sgt. Reed E. Reynolds, the G-4 engineer chief for Headquarters Battalion, 2d Marine Division, felt that higher calling and served for 29 years, retiring on April 21, 2023.

U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sgt. Reed E. Reynolds, the G4 engineer chief with Headquarters Battalion, 2d Marine Division, receives colors during his retirement ceremony on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina on April 21, 2023. Reynolds retired after 29 years of honorable and faithful service. (Image created by USA Patriotism! from U.S. Marine Corps Photo By Pfc. Ryan J. Little.)

The challenge, warrior ethos, and call to serve something greater than himself was what drew Reynolds to the Marine Corps. In June of 1994 he shipped out to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego to earn the title of United States Marine and to become a combat engineer.

From there, his career took him across all three Marine Expeditionary Forces.

His first duty station was at the 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group in Okinawa, Japan. After Japan, he received orders to 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division in Camp Pendleton, California, where he deployed with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Eventually, he found himself as a canvassing recruiter in Portland, Oregon, until October 2001.

Following recruiting, Reynolds received orders to the 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group where he was a part of the initial invasion of Iraq. He deployed again to Iraq several times, as well as to Afghanistan.
Reynolds would eventually serve as an academic analyst, working his way up as the senior enlisted advisor for the Marine Combat Engineer School where he would help mold the future of the Marine Corps’ combat engineers.

Throughout his career, Reynolds' favorite rank and billet was as a company gunnery sergeant for Charlie Company, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division.

"You're still at the point within your career where you get to train with the Marines, you still get to go out and do the operations with the Marines,” explained Reynolds.

One of Reynolds' fondest memories in the Marine Corps was training with the Singapore Armed Forces during his time with a Marine Expeditionary Unit.

"We got to run one of their obstacle courses. It was exciting being able to interact and work with service members from another country. It was great to be able to work alongside them and help teach them as well as learn from them."

The title and honor of being a Marine kept Reynolds dedicated to staying in the Corps for 29 years. His ability to not only say that he served his country, but also that he made a difference while serving with the best men and women the country has to offer leaves him with the satisfaction that only being a Marine can provide.

U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sgt. Reed E. Reynolds, the G4 engineer chief with Headquarters Battalion, 2d Marine Division, stands at attention in front of Marines carrying colors during his retirement ceremony on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina on April 21, 2023. Reynolds retired after 29 years of honorable and faithful service. (Image created by USA Patriotism! from U.S. Marine Corps Photo By Pfc. Ryan J. Little.)

“I loved the impact I was able to have on my Marines, within my job, and the Marine Corps as a whole.”

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