GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Goodfellow welcomed members of the Texas chapter of the 3rd Marine Division Association with a tour of the base April 13.
Dedicated to keeping the spirit of the Marine Corps alive, the 3rd Marine Division Association has chapters all over the world. Providing support and ways to get in touch with others who served in the Marines and were attached to the 3rd Marine Division.
A part of the Texas chapter’s activities include selecting and touring various bases in Texas. This year, 35 members of retired Marines and their spouses braved the 85 degree weather to visit Goodfellow.
Included in the tour was a Wing Mission Brief, a look at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy, a tour of the Marine Detachment on Goodfellow, lunch with Marine students at the Western Winds Dining Facility and a peek into the static display of a MiG 29 on base.
“This has been a great experience,” said president of the Texas chapter of the 3rd Marine Division Association, Bob North. “It has been a great learning experience. We didn’t just get a surface look, everything was well explained and a lot of the members didn’t know all of the information.”
The 3rd Marine Division was originally activated in 1942, and was deployed to New Zealand in 1943 to participate in World War I. It was de-activated in December 1945 till it was re-activated in 1952 and in 1965 it was re-deployed to the Republic of Vietnam. The unit participated in the Vietnam War in April of 1965 until 1969. Currently the 3rd Marine Division conducts amphibious, forcible entry operations or combined arms land operations with strategic partners and allies within the Pacific Theater Area of Operations in support of national security objectives.
“Every day when I have young Marines coming through my school I tell them of the excellent standard those who came before us set,” said Marine Corps Master Sgt. Raymond Secoy, staff non-commissioned officer in charge of the Marine Fire School. “I just want to say thank you to all of you for setting that standard, and that I hope you see that standard of excellence continued in our training today.”