Gray Tours Bases : Be ‘Warriors’ Again, Top Marine Urges

In a whirlwind tour of Marine Corps air stations at El Toro and Tustin on Tuesday, Gen. Alfred M. Gray Jr. handed out awards, saluted troops, addressed the area’s commanding officers and rallied anyone within listening distance to the cause of turning corps members into “warriors” again.

And it was quite a distance.

At a luncheon for nearly 70 commanding officers, the new Marine Corps commandant strode up and down between tables, alternately booming enthusiasm and instructions, telling officers that he is “absolutely, 100%, totally dedicated to the idea that we will achieve a warrior focus. . . . You must live by that code and instill that in all you lead.”

It was Day Two of a three-day trip to Marine installations in Orange, San Diego and San Bernardino counties--Gray’s first official visit since becoming commandant on July 1. He replaces Gen. P.X. Kelley, who had served as the Marines’ top officer since 1983 and was required by law to step down June 30.

At the Tustin Marine Corps Air Station, Gray presented the Department of Defense Maintenance Award to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466, which services 16 of the station’s troubled CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters.

Addressing the 100 Marines assembled “man to man,” Gray said he is a “powerful and fervent believer in the CH-53E.” When presenting the award, though, he alluded to the recent string of Super Stallion crashes and groundings.

‘Counting on’ Copter

“I know there are some who like to question this (belief in the huge helicopter),” he said. “We have been through some challenge areas. This has nothing to do with you. Let me go on the record as your commandant that we’re going to be counting on this (helicopter) capability for many, many, many years to come.”

He also commended the Tustin station’s mess hall staff, which recently has been named the best mess hall in the Marine Corps. The award was granted after a thorough check of “the books, sanitation and technical areas . . . and community involvement,” a written statement said.

But that’s not all. The Tustin mess hall, it seems, has refined cooking in quantity to an art and could give local five-star restaurants some reason for concern.

Not only are there self-service bars for baked potatoes and ice cream, but “through good financial management,” according to the statement, “the mess hall has the latitude to allow cooks to try new things--from ice carvings to garnishes.”