Sharon Tutt:
CLASS OF 1980
Palmetto High SchoolClass of 1980
Palmetto, GA
University of PhoenixClass of 2002
Columbia, MD
Sojourner - Douglass CollegeClass of 1999
Baltimore, MD
Palmetto Elementary SchoolClass of 1975
Palmetto, GA
Cedar Grove Elementary SchoolClass of 1972
Ellenwood, GA
Sharon's Story
Life
I was in Army ROTC in high school (thanks LtCol McGowan and SgtMaj Barksdale) and participated on the Palmetto High School's Army ROTC Drill Team. I chose to go into the United States Marine Corps.
One important life skill that I remember from my experiences is adaptability as shown in the various photographs that I was able to capture from many of my Marine Corps activities. So I thought ROTC would prepare me for what was in store at Parris Island, SC. My boot camp commenced on 2 August 1980 in the Women Recruit Training Battalion in Platoon 14B. Some of the things I remember was Captain A. M. Summerlin was the Company Commander, First Lieutenant A. Salinas was the Series Officer, Master Sergeant P. Hurlbet was the Chief Drill Instructor and Gunnery Sergeant Kornegay was the Series Gunnery Sergeant who made sure that the 100 new recruits in Platoons 14A and 14B received their esteemed Eagle, Globe and Anchor on 29 September 1980 which would be the building blocks during my Marine Corps experience.
I stayed at Parris Island, South Carolina for another two months after graduation to attend the Basic Clerical Course and the Personnel Clerks Course at the Personnel Administration School on Parris Island, South Carolina. After graduating from school, I was assigned to Headquarters and Service Company, Headquarters Battalion, Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps at Henderson Hall located in Arlington, Virginia. I worked in Headquarters and Service Company's front office performing several administrative functions. Some of those duties were mentioned in the March 26, 1982 issue of Henderson Hall News. The office I worked in had acquired the best of the best who "prided themselves in taking care of their own" (thanks Top Benney, Major Barber, Major von Kelsch, Captain Green, Captain Losack, 1stLt Richardson) with the tools of our trade -- compliance manuals, case reports, and electric typewriters. The issue described how our office functioned with each other. I made sure all Marines orders were properly endorsed and all Marines detached on time. I was also featured in the July 23, 1982 issue of the Henderson Hall News for being named HQBN Marine of the Month for June 1982 a...Expand for more
nd was meritoriously promoted to Sergeant in August 1982. Also to prepare me for this rank, I attended Non Commissioned Officer's Leadership School at Camp Hansen, Quantico, Virginia. Being stationed at Henderson Hall also exposed me to many activities where I was fortunate enough to participate in such as the Presidential Inauguration (President Carter to President Reagan), the Commandant of the Marine Corps Change of Command ceremonies (General Barrows to General Kelley) and the Special Olympics. I also got to see several Evening Parades at 8th and I because of my love for the Marine's Silent Drill Team precision and also the Sunset Parade held at the Iwo Jima Memorial (which was one of my running routes that started at Henderson Hall then went through Arlington National Cemetery and around Iwo Jima as I headed home through Fort Myers Army Base back to Henderson Hall). I was also active on the softball and basketball teams and travelled during both seasons to many Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps bases.
When my tour of duty was up at Henderson Hall, I was transferred to Headquarters and Service Battalion at Quantico, Virginia (thanks Major Burnette, Major von Kelsch, Colonel Guy). I had a change of MOS to Print Journalist. I was assigned to the Quantico Sentry staff that was located in Lejeune Hall. I attended the Basic Journalist Course at Fort Benjamin Harrison located in Indianapolis, Indiana which helped me contribute stories to the Quantico's base newspaper. I was fortunate to work with a group of skilled journalists, broadcasters, and photojournalists (thanks Top Payne, Gysgt Cortez, Gysgt Merrill, SSgt Washington). The Quantico Sentry also had a hand in covering the Marine Corps Marathon and placed second DOD-wide in the prestigious Thomas Jefferson Award in 1984 for the best commercial enterprise newspaper in the Marine Corps. I also had the opportunity to be featured in Good Housekeeping June 1985 issue. This special feature was titled Military Makeover where they selected military women from all the branches of the U.S. military to represent all 50 states. I represented the State of Georgia. I left the Marine Corps after my tour of duty was up in Quantico.
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