AL ASAD, Iraq -- The “Patriots” of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26 have done it again. For the second time in less than a month one of their Marines has been recognized for outstanding contributions to Marine aviation.
Sergeant Paul E. Fletcher, noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the squadron’s supply response division, was recently announced as the winner of the 2005 Capital Marines’ Sgt. Maj. Frederick B. Douglas Award.
“I was very thankful to be nominated, but I wasn’t expecting to win,” said Fletcher. “I appreciate my seniors for the nomination and now that I’ve won I appreciate the hard work they put into nominating me. Something like this means a lot to me, I would have been happy with just a pat on the back.”
The Sgt. Maj. Frederick B. Douglas Award recognizes an enlisted Marine in the aviation element of an operating forces unit who has made a significant contribution to increase combat readiness within the organization.
According to Lt. Col. Carmine J. Borrelli, MALS-26 commanding officer, Fletcher has proved himself as an invaluable asset to the command and is well deserving of this award.
“Sergeant Fletcher has an aggressive and focused dedication toward record-breaking aircraft readiness,” said Borrelli, a native of Yonkers, N.Y. “His keen skills and unwavering initiative as an aviation supply expeditor have produced tangible results beyond expectation and his innovative expediting style is particularly noteworthy.”
Fletcher, from Somerset, N.J., enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1999 after graduating from Franklin High School. “I needed a challenge in life and I thought this would provide the best one,” he said.
Throughout his time with MALS-26 he’s deployed to Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Ariz., in support of the Weapons and Tactics Instructors Course and to Djibouti, Bahrain and Afghanistan attached to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261 with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Among his many achievements are his actions as the supply response division’s lead expeditor. In this position Fletcher assisted Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 and HMM-261 prepare for their role in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. According to Borrelli, his tenacity procuring, distributing and moving the squadrons’ high priority parts enabled the units to meet all training requirements prior to deploying and ultimately led to the successful mission accomplishment of both squadrons operating in the Al Anbar province.
In January 2004 Fletcher was hand selected to deploy to Naval Air Station, Sigonella, Italy, in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He served as the expeditor for a detachment from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 operating in the Horn of Africa and for a detachment from MALS-16 operating in Iraq.
“His accomplishments there had a far-reaching impact on the units he supported,” said Borrelli. “He committed his best effort and through his aggressiveness and situational awareness identified and accessed the quickest ways to get assets to the Horn of Africa and made decisions that allowed the squadrons in Iraq to continually meet their mission requirements.”
In November 2004 Fletcher returned to Marine Corps Air Station, New River, N.C. Less than four months later he deployed again and serves here in a position normally given to a Marine of higher grade.
“I’m comfortable with allowing him to run night crew without having a [staff noncommissioned officer] there,” said Maj. Jeffrey M. Bolduc, supply officer and Winslow, Maine, native. “I wouldn’t do that with many other sergeants.”
Fletcher, proud of his accomplishments, admits that his success didn’t come without the support of everyone in his squadron.
“[Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26] has done some remarkable things,” said Fletcher. “The work everyone’s been doing is impressive. I am just a piece of the pie.”
The Capital Marines detachment of the Marine Corps League was chartered in Washington, D.C., in August 1982 and is considered unique. Many of its members are in positions of national leadership in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of America's government.
- For more information about the Marines reported on in this story, please contact Sgt. Juan Vara by e-mail at varaj@acemnf-wiraq.usmc.mil -