Devil Pup joins Devil Dogs at celebration
|
|
November 11, 2013 |
 |
| Devil
Pup graduation ceremony, July 27, 2013 |
|
For most teens, summer vacation means freedom; a
chance to engage in fun or just chill. For one
Bonners Ferry teen, summer vacation saw a dream
fulfilled, though it had little if anything to
do with fun, and no chilling at all. But he
wasn't quite prepared for what happened
yesterday.
 |
|
Marine drill
sergeant Finch and Devil Pup Jaeger
Schnuerle. |
Instead, Jaeger Schnuerle, 15 and a sophomore at
Bonners Ferry High School, spent 10 days of his
summer vacation, in July, no less, in the hot
sun of Camp Pendleton, California, learning
close-order drill, leadership and much more in
the Devil Pups Youth Program for America.
For those who don't know, "Devil Dog" is the
endearing appellation bestowed by German
soldiers upon the ferocious U.S. Marines they
were forced to fight in World War I. Camp
Pendleton is one of two Marine Corps training
bases that turn everyday youthful recruits who
have what it takes into Devil Dogs.
In 1953, retired Marine Corps Colonel Duncan
Shaw, Sr., learned that a group of teenagers
burned an American flag at a Southern California
high school.
Aggravated by this activity and the attitudes
among American youth it represented, Colonel
Shaw and a group of retired Marine Corps Reserve
Officers, now prominent Southern California
businessmen, asked the Commandant of the Marine
Corps to help with a community benefit project
that would aid the development of character
qualities in teenage boys and girls, and enable
them to become healthier and more successful
young citizens.
That was the birth of the Devil Pups (http://www.devilpups.com),
a non-profit organization designed to help
western state boys and girls ages 14 to 17 from
all backgrounds gain self-confidence and learn
to take responsibility for their actions.
Jaeger, who has long professed a desire to serve
in the military, heard of the program last year
and wanted to go then. After looking into it,
though, his parents, Toby and Jamie, thought it
sounded a little too intense for what they
feared was a whim.
When, a year later, Jaeger remained insistent,
his parents relented.
But you don't just waltz into Camp Pendleton or
Devil Pup training. First you have to be vetted;
you have to earn the right to attend. Jaeger
did, passing interviews, fitness and medical
tests. Of 300 Devil Pups in his training cycle,
he was one of only three from Idaho.
While not officially affiliated with the U.S.
Marine Corps, Devil Pups are trained by active
duty Marine Corps drill instructors, a group of
highly trained professionals not noted for being
either warm or fuzzy. Within sight and sound,
Devil Pups can see the rigors Devil Dog recruits
undergo in boot camp.
When he came off the parade deck after
graduation, Jaeger tearfully hugged his Mom.
"I love you and missed you, Mom," he said. "I
will be a Marine."
On November 10, 1775, the Second Continental
Congress passed a resolution creating “two
Battalions of Marines be raised,” and in every
war and conflict since, the United States
Marine Corps has earned the world’s respect as
an elite and reliable fighting unit wherever put
into combat.
 |
|
Bill Sills,
Jaeger Schnuerle and Eldon Koon
celebrate the 238th birthday of the U.S.
Marine Corps. |
Sunday marked the 238th birthday of the United
States Marine Corps, older than the United
States itself, and in Bonners Ferry, over 100
people gathered at the Legion Hall to celebrate.
Jaeger was surprised to have been invited as a
guest of retired Marine top gun fighter pilot
Tim Wilson, a Marine Jaeger looks up to as a
mentor and role model.
He was by far more surprised to be called
forward and introduced as Boundary County's
youngest Marine, and asked to take part in the
solemn cake cutting ceremony with two tried and
battle tested Marine veterans, Bill Sills and
the county's eldest Marine, Eldon Koon, one of
the "Chosin Few" who fought in the terrible
"Frozen Chosin" during the Korean Conflict under
the legendary Marine Lewis "Chesty" Puller, who
said at the time, "We're surrounded. That
simplifies our problem of getting to these
people and killing them."
While he's not officially a U.S. Marine as yet,
Jaeger is amazed at being accepted and welcomed
into that storied fraternity, especially by
Marines who lived and are part of the legacy.
Semper Fi, Marines. Happy belated birthday.
Goodnight, Chesty, wherever you are.
Editor's Note: As a former enlisted
artilleryman in the Army's 82nd Airborne
Division, it was difficult not to apply the
appellation "Jar Head" in the writing of this
article. As a citizen of the United States, I
salute and thank all who have served, are
serving and will serve in the U.S. Armed Forces,
Reserves and National Guard. Not just on
Veterans Day, but every day. |
|
Questions or comments about this
article?
Click here to e-mail! |
|
|
|
|
