Lavelle Perkins:  

Life I, born in Monroe, LA, later moved to Houston, TX in 1967. I enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in May 1981 upon graduation. Upon completion of basic training at wonderful Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA. I was assigned to Landing Support Battalion, 1st Force Service Support Group, Camp Pendleton, CA. While assigned to Camp Pendleton, I participated in my 1st deployment to the Philippines. During this time I trained and completed the Marine Corps marathon as part of the 1st Force Service Support Group Marathon Team. This team was the first in Marine Corps history, to run the marathon in platoon formation from start to finish. In March 1983, I was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Corporal and transferred to 3rd Landing Support Battalion, 3rd Force Service Support Group, Okinawa, Japan. During this tour of duty I was part of the Battalion’s elite “Squared-Away Red Patch Club”. In August 1984, I reported to Marine Security Guard School (MSG) in Quantico, VA for training. Following the training he was assigned to the American Embassy Cairo, Egypt. While there I was assigned to special security detail with the State Department Security Service and Secret Service Security in Jerusalem, Israel, and Nairobi, Kenya. In December 1995, I was reassigned to the American Embassy Lisbon, Portugal. While there I was again assigned to a special security detail with the Secret Service for than Vice Pres. Bush. I was promoted to the rank of Sergeant while serving in Lisbon, Portugal. After completing his tour as a Marine Security Guard, I was assigned to Station Operations and Maintenance Squadron (SOMS), Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, CA in July 1987. I served as Assistant Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of the Air Freight/Passenger Terminal operations. In December 1989, I was ordered to 3rd Landing Support Battalion, 3rd Force Service Support Group, Okinawa, Japan where I served as Platoon Ser...Expand for more