Dirik Snead Sr.

VMGR-252 Cherry Point NC

Orlando Fl.

I was in High school when september 11th happened but i was a junior and only 16 years old. I turned 17 november 11 2001 and with my parents consent November 25th i was in MEPS swearing my oath. I graduated High School june 4th and June 23rd i was standing on the yellow foot prints at Parris Island SC. Got through boot camp and was sent to Jacksonville NC to go through MCT. Then I was sent to Pensacola Fl to go through Aircrew training. It was good training lots of swimming and the Helo dunker was pretty fun. Jumping into the bay from a moving boat in November and having a helo pick you up out the water and then lower you back into the cold water was not but at least i have a story to tell about it. After I got done with that I was sent to Cherry Point where I was to stay but i still had schools to finish. I was designated for KC-130s as a flight mechanic in December 2003 after a year and a half of LOTS of studying and going on qualification flights. I was so proud with my Gold AC wings on my chest. Made me puff up a little and get that tight feeling in my throat. So after i got that i got orders to go from VMGRT-253 to VMGR-252 right next door. They shared a Hanger. After i got there I was told that after all the training i had done that we were eventually gonna go to the KC-130J, I had been trained how to work on and fly on the KC-130 F,R,and T models. So Since i was the new guy i didnt go through it first they needed the older guys who knew alot more than me to go through it first. And when it came time for my squadron to get called to Iraq I still wasnt trained in my school. So I was sent to the big sandbox as Security for our flight line. Basicly i was trained in some advanced hand to hand combat and Mixed Martial Arts. I was taught how to detain a suspect, how to check TCN’s (Third Country Nationals) for weapons and such during pat downs, I was also trained how to search vehicles for hazardous things(weapons, bombs, Propaganda, ECT.) So I spent about 4-5 months patting down TCN’s and riding on porta potty sucking trucks escorting them and standing guard at various times of the day at our check points. and i was the HumV driver also and because of that i was asked if I would help out the convoys and I agreed. Got into a few fire fights, but i survived and luckily all of our guys did as well (I was lucky). Well i get back to the states and ask about a Combat action ribbon since i met the requirements and was told that i couldnt get it cause i didnt have any proof. Oh well. I cant wear it now anyways. I live through it every night but that is neither here nor there. So i get back and i get to my family my wife and my son who turned 1 years old when i was gone. and I get about 5 great months to spend with them when it is time to go back over to the Dirt. This time I was sent as a tool-room rep. Basically I ordered tools, organized tools and all the paper work that goes with it, and helped the “Emril” Representative computer stuff ect that we need for the planes. So i went over there I was 5′9″ and a fat 190 lbs. and passing out tools all day you have a good amount of down time. So I started running 3-4 times a day 4.5 miles and going to the Gym with my buddy and tool-room co-worker Bill Sawin. I had never benched in my life. By the time i left in the 3 months i spent there i had dropped down to 175 lbs and built back up to 180lbs. solid and was Benching 225lbs. I came back home just in time to see my second son born just 3 weeks after i got back. I was transferred to Powerline (Motor mechanics for the plane) because it was my “B” billet. And i liked it worked with my hands, great guys, and i was promotable after a month of being in the shop i picked up Corporal and was able to go to my last Marine Corps Ball on active duty with my service stripe and blood stripe not to mention all of my war metals. I left the Marine Corps after 5 years on June 23, 2007 and if i had to do it again i would every time.