Semper Fi 1 Riverside National Cemetery Memorial Honor Guard

Board of Directors
Semper Fi #1

04/16/2020
President, Enoch "Mac" McClain
Vice President, Manuel Precie
Secretary, Jim Coen
Treasurer, Gary Enochs

Sgt Major, MGYSGT Ken Merrell
Director at Large, Michael Hogan

Adjutant - HM3 David "Doc" Hooper

Sgt. Enoch "Mac" McClain President

USMC 1965-1971
MCRD San Diego Ca. Plt. 350
MCB Camp Pendleton Ca.
Viet Nam, Albany Ga.
Camp Lejeune N.C.

     Mac was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and entered the United States Marine Corps in 1965.
In January 1966, he was sent to Vietnam.
His first assignment was as a rifleman in Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion 3rd Marine Regiment (3/3).
     He then went to 3.5 rockets (carrying three-light antitank weapons (LAW)) and finally to 60mm mortars.
Some, but not all, of the operations he was involved in were: Hasting, Double Eagle I, Double Eagle II, Prairie I, and Prairie II.
     During his tour in Vietnam in 60mm mortars, his jobs included assistant gunner, gunner, team leader, and eventually section leader of a 14-man unit. In February of 1967, after 13 months and five days in Vietnam, he was sent back to the states where he was assigned as a fire team leader in “C” Company, 1st Battalion 2nd Marine Regiment (½) at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina.
     After coming off a six-month “float” in the Mediterranean,
he returned to Camp LeJeune as a corporal of the guard of a unit assigned to guarding equipment and warehouses.
He then promoted to sergeant and went to Albany, Georgia, first as a military police officer and then as the NCOIC of the base theaters.
     In February 1969, he was assigned to a staging battalion as a tactics instructor at Camp Pendleton, California.
The staging battalion was responsible for training the majority of Marines, regardless of MOS, being deployed to Vietnam.
In December 1970, he was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps.
In 1998, he became a member of Semper Fi #1. In 2002, he was elected and still remains president of Semper Fi #1.
This unit has been in existence since 1997 and has rendered honors for over 1600 veterans.

SSGT. Manuel R. Precie
Vice President

SSGT. MANUEL R. PRECIE

SAN DIEGO OR PERRIS ISLAND: SAN DIEGO
PLATOON NUMBER: PLT 368 I CO 3RD RECRUIT BN
SERVICE DATES OR YRS OF SERVICE: 1965-1989

DECORATIONS & MEDALS:
COMBAT ACTION 3 AWARDS, PUC, NUC, GOOD CONDUCT, SELECTED MC RESERVES, NDM,AF EXPEDITIONARY,
VN SERVICE 4 AWARDS, ARMED FORCES RESERVE, RVN GALLANTRY CROSS W BRONZE PALM 2 AWARDS, RVN CAMPAIGN 3 AWARDS, MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION,

SHOOTING BADGES: EXPERT RIFLE WITH SILVER E, PISTOL SHARPSHOOTER

DUTY ASSIGNMENTS OR STATIONS: MCRD-SAN DIEGO 1965, HOTEL CO-2ND INFANTRY TRAINING REGT-CAMP PENDLETON 1965,
COMMUNICATIONS SCHOOL CAMPEN 1965, 1ST MARDIV 1966-CHU LAI-TAM KY-BONG SONG VALLEY-QUANG NHAI, DANANG 1967-HILL 327,COMM PLT HQCO 7TH MARINES
1967-HILL 10-HILL 41-HILL 55, MCSC BARSTOW 1967-1968, MCAS EL TORO MWCS-3 3RD MAW, PLT SGT 2/23 MARINES E CO-G CO-D CO, CAMP LEJEUNE-29 PALMS-PANAMA CANAL ZONE-CAMP ROBERTS

DATE JOINED SEMPER FI #1: AUGUST 2011

SSgt Gary Enochs
Treasurer

Gary Enochs joined the US Marine Corps in Jan 1976 and retired in February 1996 after 20 years of service. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in June 1996 from Park University and ultimately a Master of Business administration in Technology Management from the University of Phoenix in 2003 all from his GI bill benefits. Gary has worked for the county of Riverside since 1996 with Flood Control, District Attorney, and finally the Sheriff in Information Technology. Gary joined Semper Fi #1 in Nov 2007 and serves with the Gold team.

Cpl. Jim Coen
Secretary

Cpl. Jim Coen

USMC 1956-1960
MCRD San Diego Ca.
Plt MCB Camp Pendleton Ca.
C 1st Recon Bn

Director at Large L/Cpl Michael Hogan - Attorney

Mike joined the Marines for a two-year commitment in February 1966. He received his basic training at MCRD San Diego, Plt. 368. He underwent ITR at Camp Pendleton. Upon completion of ITR, he was assigned to Echo Company 2/8 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Five weeks after arriving at Camp Lejeune, he was sent to Vietnam. He served in Vietnam from October 1966 through November 1967. He was initially assigned to Echo Company 2/9 for a brief period, after which he was assigned to Marine Security Platoon, D Company, 3rd Military Police Battalion. During his time with Marine Security, he served in Quang Ngai and Danang, providing security for MACV compounds.

Upon his return from Vietnam, Mike was discharged from active duty three months early to attend college. Mike attended Purdue University from 1968 to 1972, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering. Mike then attended Indiana University School of Law from 1972 through 1976, graduating with a Doctor of Jurisprudence Magna Cum Laude.

Mike has been a member of Semper Fi #1 since 2011, during which he has served on Gold Team. he also is the Attorney for Semper Fi #1.

Sergeant Major MGySgt Kenneth Merrell

MGySgt Merrell is in charge of training, education and inspections for the Semper Fi #1 teams. He joined in 2007 and has brought consistency and continuity, for all members and staff especially during the 2019 COVID-19 pandemic where many of our membership declined and commitments increased to our present level.

Master Gunnery Sergeant Kenneth W. Merrell was born in Huntsville, Alabama. After two years in Alabama A&M University he joined the U.S. Marine Corps in June 1971. Upon graduating recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina and attending the Infantry Training School at Camp Geiger, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Attended the Military Police School at Fort Gordon, Georgia and was assigned as a Military Policeman with the 1^st Marine Air Wing, Iwakuni, Japan.

Upon returning stateside he was assigned to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California as a Military Policeman where he served as a Patrolman, Patrol Supervisor, and on the Deserter Apprehension Team with the Orange County Military Police. In 1974 attending the Army’s Military Policy Investigators School and assigned as a Military Police Investigator with the Orange County Military Police.

April 1977 attending Drill Instructor School he was assigned to 1^st Recruit Training Battalion for Drill Instructor Duty. Upon leaving the drill field he attended San Diego State University on the Degree Completion Program gradating with A Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.

July 1981 assigned to the Miliary Police at Camp Pendleton, California as a Watch Commander and attending the Army’s Criminal Investigators School at Fort McClelland, Alabama. Upon returning he was assigned duty with the Criminal Investigation Division.

From 1984 to 1987 MGySgt Merrell serve in Okinawa Japan

Assigned to dual duties on September 1987 as the MCAS El Toro, Provost Sergeant and Chief Criminal Investigator. On August 1990 deployed with MAG70, 3^rd Marine Aircraft Wing to the Persian Gulf for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm with duties as 3d MAW Provost Sergeant and Chief Criminal Investigator. January 1992 assigned to Security Battalion, MCB Camp Pendleton as the Chief Criminal Investigator. Obtained his master's degree in forensic science from National University in April 1993.

August 1994 MGySgt Merrell was transferred again to MCAS El Toro, Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy as the Staff Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the Advanced Course. He retired in June of 1999 after 27 years of military service. He has been a member of Semper Fi #1 since 2008.

MGySgt Merrell’s personal awards and decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal with one gold star, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), the Good Conduct Medal 6^th award, National Defense Medal with one star, the Meritorious Unit Citation the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the Overseas Service Ribbon.

Past Board Members

Sgt. Paul Mcallester Director at Large

Born in Philadelphia, PA, and raised in Westville Grove, NJ.
After graduating from High School I joined the Marines and was sent to MCRD Paris Island, SC.
On August 9, 1951. There I earned the expert rifle badge. Upon graduation, I was sent to MCRD San Diego, CA,
and attended communication school graduating as 2543.

I was then sent to Marine Corps Air Station. Cherry
Point, NC., and worked at Headquarters in the communications department. In August 1953,
I was sent to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force, communication headquarters in Korea.
There I completed my enlistment in August 1954 and was sent to Treasure Island, CA, where I was discharged.

I moved to Southern CA and attended college for two years where I majored in accounting, business, and sales management but did not graduate.
Over the years I was employed by several companies as an account, chief accountant, assistant treasurer, general sales office manager, and sales manager.
At one of the companies, a medium-sized corporation, I was elected to the board of directors and served for 6 years.

I ultimately received my license as a general contractor and managed my own contracting business for 28 years.
During my time as a contractor, I volunteered with two non-profit organizations and served on their board of directors.
I rode with the Patriot Guards group for 2 years until I discovered Semper Fi #1 which I joined on February 8, 2013.

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CPL. RANDY A MCGARVEY
TREASURER
SAN DIEGO OR PERRIS ISLAND: SAN DIEGO
PLATOON NUMBER: 3094
SERVICE DATES OR YRS OF SERVICE: MARCH 1977 / MARCH 1983
DECORATIONS & MEDALS: SEL. MARINE CORPS RESERVE MEDAL
SHOOTING BADGES: SHARPSHOOTER
DUTY ASSIGNMENTS OR STATIONS: 3RD ANGLICO
DATE JOINED SEMPER FI #1: 09/1999
REMARKS OR COMMENTS: SECRETARY 2000 - 2010
TREASURER 2010 - PRESENT