I grew up on the streets of Baltimore. The area where I lived did not offer much opportunity for success. I always wanted to join the Army. I wanted to follow in the footsteps of my maternal grandfather and my father. Both had served in the Army during World War II.
My father passed away in 1970. My mother did her best trying to raise five kids on her own. In 1977, I quit high school in the 10th grade. I figured I needed to find a job so I could help support my mother and siblings. Growing up without a male role model led me to make a huge decision. I wanted to be part of something bigger. I wanted off the streets. What huge decision, you ask? To join the Army! On Oct. 6, 1978, I joined the Army Reserve and went to Fort Gordon, Ga,, for basic training and advanced individual training (AIT). While in the Army Reserve, I went back to high school and graduated in 1981 from Overlea Senior High School in Baltimore.
After spending six years with Signal Company Support Battalion, 11th Special Forces Group out of Fort Meade, Md., as a telecommunication specialist, I left the Army Reserve to attend a community college for two years. After going to college, I needed to find a career that challenged me. So, on Oct. 6, 1986, I enlisted again with the regular Army. Given the break in service, I had to complete basic training and AIT for the second time at Fort Sill, Okla.
After graduating as a 13F Fire Support Specialist, I was stationed with 1st Battalion (Light), 7th Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Drum, N.Y., for three and a half years. In 1990, I was stationed with F Battery 333th Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Armored Division in Hanau, Germany. We were deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Storm with VII Corps and coalition forces fighting to liberate Kuwait.
On Sept. 10, 1992, my tour was up, and I was getting out of the Army. When I was processing out, an Army officer asked if I would like to join the Army National Guard in Maryland. I said I would. I was stationed with the HHC 110th Field Artillery from October 1992 to January 1994. On May 9, 1994, I became a field artillery targeting warrant officer for the 129th Field Artillery Detachment in Sandston, Va. During my time with this unit, I deployed to Sarajevo for IFOR/SFOR from 1997-1998 and Tuzla Bosnia, for SFOR-10 from 2001-2002. Then I was activated to work at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., to support Task Force Omaha from 2003 to 2004.
My last deployment with the 129th Field Artillery Detachment was for Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2004 to 2005 at LSA Anaconda, Balad Air Base, Iraq. In 2008, I transferred to the 116th Combat Infantry Brigade as a signal systems support technician, managing personnel and equipment assets associated with the operation and interworking of signal communication systems. In 2011, the 116th Combat Infantry Brigade was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, in support of the Afghan National Security Forces. After returning from Kandahar, I was transferred to 29ID G6 at Fort Belvoir, Va., as senior Information services technician supervisor, managing information system assets associated with automated information systems.
On Dec. 31, 2015, I proudly retired from the 29th Infantry Division after 37 years. It was a day full of support from all my brothers and sisters in arms. I entered the service as an enlisted soldier who dropped out of high school and retired as a senior warrant officer with a master’s degree in information technology management from Trident University
International in Cypress, Calif.
As I contemplate retirement, I realize I have a different journey of service -- a journey of discovering how to transition from a huge family of fellow soldiers to life with a smaller, more special family. The most important thing in my life today is to be able to spend the rest of my days with my lovely wife, our children and our grandchildren.
I would not be where I am today had I not decided to go into the military. Going back to school was not just about earning my diploma. It was to continue my lifelong quest for knowledge. That quest led me to earn an associate’s degree, a bachelor of science degree and ultimately my master’s degree. I was blessed to be mentored, selected and recognized by my fellow leaders and soldiers.
I often wonder, what if I had not made that big decision to join the Army? What if I never shared the leadership skills, fought alongside my brothers and sisters in combat, or mentored some of the finest soldiers I have ever worked with? I know I would not be where I am today without my brothers and sisters in arms having my six.
CW4 Edgar O. Marquis Jr., U.S. Army, retired
