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Photo Information

Cpl. Wilde Lariveaux works at his computer aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Feb. 1, 2017. Lariveaux emigrated from Haiti to the United States at the age of seven, and later went back to lend humanitarian aid after Hurricane Matthew decimated the Haitian country. Lariveaux is an administrative specialist assigned to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Cody Lemons/Released)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Cody Lemons

Flyby Friday: New country, new opportunity

3 Feb 2017 | Lance Cpl. Cody Lemons 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing

Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Cpl. Wilde Lariveaux had to overcome the challenges of moving to a different country at the age of seven to become the person he is today.

“At first, moving to Ft. Lauderdale [Fla.] was kind of hard because I didn’t know the area,” said Lariveaux. “I stayed inside a lot, but after a while I made friends from school and I fell in love with the city.”

Coming to the United States gave Lariveaux some opportunities he may not have had in Haiti.

“Coming from another country, I saw all of the opportunities in America,” said Lariveaux. “I was allowed to go to school a lot more, learn a new language and work on my social skills.”

As time went on, Lariveaux contemplated the direction he wanted to take his life toward.

“I was always interested in the military,” said Lariveaux. “As the years went on, I looked at the Marine Corps and realized what it could give me; an opportunity to go to school, have more money and have a job. I could have a lot of skill sets coming out of the Marine Corps that will benefit me in the work force. I thought ‘instead of going straight into college and deal with a whole lot of student loans, why not take this path first?’”

Along the way, Lariveaux had a little help persuading him to join the Marines.

“While I was in high school, I was in the Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps,” said Lariveaux. “While I was there I learned a lot. After a while I got really interested in it and I wanted to learn more about it. Over time I joined the drill team and the marksmanship team they had. I kind of got deeper into the program and over time that set me up on the path to joining the Marine Corps without me even realizing it.”

Now, as an administrative specialist on Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Lariveaux is an essential part of his unit.

“I pretty much do any and all things dealing with administration,” said Lariveaux. “Paperwork, promotions, cutting scores, Marine online, all things that you can think administrative wise, that’s what I handle.”

Not long ago, Lariveaux’s time in the Marine Corps led him back to his native country.

“Recently I went down to Haiti to help with the humanitarian relief after the hurricane,” said Lariveaux. “We provided for the families and the people down there who have lost a lot. They lost a lot of loved ones. We can’t bring those people back, but we tried to do something. We provided food, clothing, tarps, and whatever we could to help them get back on their feet.”

Lariveaux was not required to go to Haiti, but he volunteered when asked.

“I went down there with Combat Logistic Battalion 24, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group from Camp Lejeune,” said Lariveaux. “II MEF needed translators and I ended up being one.”

Lariveaux said he is grateful for all of the opportunities that the Marine Corps has awarded him along the way.

“The Marine Corps has honestly provided a lot to me,” said Lariveaux. “It’s pretty much up to you what you make out of it. The Marine Corps is going to give and it’s going to take, it just depends on you what you’re going to get out of it.”

“I love what I do, and I love being a Marine. Whether I stay in for 20 years or I get out in a couple of years, I wouldn’t change it for anything.”


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2nd Marine Aircraft Wing