Lieutenant Colonel Thomas R. O’Connell enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1980. He served a Marine Reservist at Glenview Naval Air Station while attending Northeastern Illinois University. Upon completion of Officers Candidate School and graduation from college in 1983, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant.
He was designated a Naval Aviator in 1985. He became a CH-53A/D Sea Stallion pilot in 1986. He did tours of duty in Virginia, Florida, Texas, California, North Carolina, Washington D.C., Hawaii, Illinois, and Japan. He also deployed to the Mediterranean Sea, Korea, and Cambodia. In 2003 he retired from active duty and became the Senior Marine Instructor for Noble Street Charter High School. In 2006 he became the Senior Marine Instructor for all Noble Street Charter School MCJROTC programs. His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. |
Master Gunnery Sergeant Brian D. Hampton is a native of Chicago, Illinois and attended Lindblom Technical High School. He joined the Delayed entry program in November of 1978 and immediately after high school at the age of 17 he departed for Recruit Training in San Diego, Ca. in June 1979.
Upon completion of recruit training in September of 1979, he attended Marine Corps Communications and Electronics School at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Californiafor his primary MOS of Field Radio Operator, and High Frequency Communications Central Operator. After graduation he was assigned to 8th Communications Battalion, 2nd FSSG, Camp Lejeune, N.C. in April of 1980, In 1981 LCpl Hampton was transferred to Communications Support Company, 7th Communications Battalion, Kaneohe Bay, Hi, where he served concurrently as a High Frequency Radio Supervisor and as Marine Corps Integrated Maintenance Management Systems specialist and was promoted to the rank of Corporal. Upon completion of that tour, Cpl Hampton was assigned to Drill Instructor School in 1983. After graduation he was assigned to D Company, 2nd Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment. He was promoted to Sergeant during this tour in 1984. While assigned to RTR, he held the billets of Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, and Marine Liaison MCRD-PISC Branch Medical. He was also selected to serve on the Depot Color Guard, a prestigious unit that provided ceremonial support to the southeastern United States. Upon completion of this tour he received an Honorable Discharge in October 1985. Sergeant Hampton reenlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve at Naval Air Station Glenview, Illinois in January 1986 as a High Frequency Radio Supervisor with MWCS-48 and subsequently became the General Military Subjects (GMS) Training NCOIC for the entire Squadron. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant during this tour in 1988. On 7 February 1989 SSgt Hampton was reassigned to Active Duty with the Full-time Support (FTS) program (now Active Reserve) as the GMS Training Chief for MACG-48, Naval Air Station Glenview, IL then the largest reserve command within MARFORRES. During this tour he also served concurrently as the Group Substance Abuse Control Officer (S.A.C.O.) and Public Affairs Officer. In his capacity as Marine Air Control Group 48 Public Affairs Officer he reported directly to the group commander on all public affairs/relations matters regarding the command and acted as the command's representative to private media and press agencies. In 1991 he was reassigned as the 'Company Gunnery Sergeant' of MACG-48. In this capacity, as well as his many command duties, he was responsible for numerous duties coordinating ceremonial details (various Color Guard and Funeral/Honor Guard activities), the Category-P program, Toys for Tots etc. He was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant in 1991. In 1993 he was assigned to Prior Service Recruiting, Region 9, N.A.S. Glenview and subsequently assigned as NCOIC of the largest site within the region. During his initial tour he was re-designated as a career recruiter, MOS 8412. While assigned to PSR Site, Glenview, he held the billets of PSR recruiter, noncommissioned officer in charge, and assistant Recruiter Instructor, as well as being selected as a member of the national inspection team. He was promoted to Master Sergeant in 1997 and transferred to Prior Service Recruiting Headquarters, Marine Corps Reserve Support Command (now Mobilization Command), Kansas City, Mo as the National Operations Chief and senior member of the national inspection team. Master Sergeant Hampton was selected to the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant in January 2001 and was reassigned as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the head of Prior Service Recruiting. Among his duties, he acted as liaison between PSR, MCRSC and the Marine Corps Recruiting Command and was responsible for all technical and operational recruiting functions for the Prior Service Recruiting organization as well as coordinating with the Command Sergeant Major on all enlisted matters. In October 2002 he transferred to his final assignment as the Operations Chief, Prior Service Recruiting District 9, 9th Marine Corps District, Great Lakes, Il. He retired from active service in February 2005. Master Gunnery Sergeant Hampton’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal ,(with gold star in lieu of second award) Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. |