JOHN F . CAMPBELL , JR . ’ 12
I
am a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps , currently serving on an Amphibious Reconnaissance Freefall Team , based out of Okinawa , Japan . Throughout my entire time at Saint David ’ s , I was committed to the idea of serving in the military and our country . When Mr . Sunderwirth asked us to create a piece of art dedicated to our favorite professional sports team for our Lower School pottery class , I charged ahead with my own ideas and created a box that boldly read , “ Navy Seals !” A few years later when tasked with the assignment of a self-portrait by Ms . Boccella , much to my mother ’ s dismay , I produced a watercolor painting of myself dressed in military fatigues with fighter jets and attack helicopters in the background . While in seventh grade , a Saint David ’ s alumnus who had joined the Army came to speak in his dress uniform and told us stories about his time in Afghanistan . A few months later on May 2 , 2011 , Fred Robertshaw and I were cheering in Mr . Kilkeary ’ s homeroom celebrating the news of the successful Bin Laden raid the night before . From that moment forward I was committed to serving in one of the United States Military ’ s specialized organizations .
I graduated from USMC Bootcamp at Parris Island , SC in 2017 and the following year I completed the Marine Corps ’ Basic Reconnaissance Course in Camp Pendleton , CA at long last earning my spot in the coveted ranks of the Marine Recon community . Over the next three-and-a-half years , I attended Tulane University full-time while maintaining an active status in the Marine Reserves by spending a minimum of four days a month with my unit . In December of 2021 , I graduated with a degree in Economics and I then turned my sights back to the military as a full-time pursuit , volunteering for a deployment to Asia . My platoon is currently in the first half of a sixmonth rotation in the Indo-Pacific working with allied militaries and strengthening our relationships with partner nations . Through all of my experiences with the Marines , I have been lucky to work with predominantly top-performing individuals . And in a world in which exceptional physical fitness , professional competency , and excellence in one ’ s tradecraft are all
expected , the characteristic that truly distinguishes the finest Recon Marines from the rest is the way that they treat their peers .
At 25 years old , as I reflect on my formal education in life — Saint David ’ s School , Loyola High School , Tulane University , and The United States Marine Corps — it is abundantly clear to me that the most formative years and influential experiences of my life came from my time as a Saint David ’ s student and as a United States Marine . Over the course of a decade , Saint David ’ s pushed me in my academic , artistic , and spiritual pursuits while also stressing the importance of competitive spirit within team athletic events from an incredibly early age . While allowing us to perfect our individual skills as students , our teachers and coaches at Saint David ’ s instilled in us the importance of treating our peers with respect and dignity at all times and in every situation . As a young boy , I was by no means an outstanding athlete , however , Coach Evangelista pushed us all equally on the lacrosse field ; regardless of skill , he showed us what true cohesive teamwork could achieve . I remember clearly being on the bus in eighth grade heading to Randall ’ s Island for a game in the rain , when Coach Evangelista shouted , “ I want you to imagine that you are Special Forces soldiers running off the back of a helicopter as you run off this bus !” He proceeded to tell us at half-time that , “ being wet and cold is just a state of mind .” It would be six years before I would find myself standing on a beach in Coronado , CA at night looking out over the Pacific Ocean , listening to a Recon instructor tell me roughly the same thing .
The Core Values of the United States Marine Corps are Honor , Courage , and Commitment . The unofficial motto of the Marine Reconnaissance community is , “ Never Above You , Never Below You , Always Beside You .” I do not believe that I was successful in my pursuit of becoming a Force Recon Marine because of my time at Saint David ’ s ; however , I do believe that the foundation that Saint David ’ s gave me from my earliest days is what drives me to serve as a dedicated , loyal , and selfless team member to my Recon brothers every day . •
Ut Viri Boni Sint .
Summer 2023 • 29