
The MCRA continues to present the "1stLt Keith Wells" award at each TBS graduation class. This award is named after Keith Wells who was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions during the assault on Mt. Suribachi. Part of his citation reads: "by his leadership and indomitable fighting spirit, 1st Lt Wells contributed materially to the destruction of at least twenty-five Japanese emplacements."
On 29 Jan, National President Ken Hopper presented the first award of 2014 to "E Company 5-13” to 2Lt. Robert Simpson,Jr. Bob was raised in Concord, NC, graduated from the US Naval Academy and majored in Physics. He will begin Infantry Officer School in March. During their six months of training, which began on 9 July 2013, they received 1700 hours of instruction on “the basics”: which included classroom instruction, physical fitness events, land navigation, field exercises, MOUT, and MCMAP training.
The five horizontal themes stressed throughout TBS are:
Marine officers must be of exemplary character and integrity
An officer is devoted to leading Marines 24/7
Able to decide, communicate, and act in the fog of war
A warfighter who embraces our Corps warrior ethos
You are mentally strong and physically tough
Congratulations Bob!