Fred

Fred

Want to know more about Fred? Get their official bio, social pages & articles on 1370 WSPD!Full Bio

 

When One Falls Another Takes His Place- Perrysburg Native Commissioned

On Memorial Day we honor those who paid the price of freedom with their lives. The men and women of the United States Armed Forces, who since the first shot was fired to obtain this country's freedom until today, have served and died to maintain our way of life. As you pay your respects to your family and friends who have served and passed on remember that their voices echo through the ages.

Other young men and women hear that echoed cry to duty and answer it. Each day thousands, knowing they may be asked to pay the full price, step up and pledge themselves.

When you visit Toledo Memorial Park or the Military Memorial Pathway and read the names of our heroes keep in mind other heroes are marching where they marched, fighting for what they fought for, and ready to die for our right to live free.

One such person is Perrysburg native Hunter R Mortemore who stepped forward when he heard the voices from the past. This is his story.

A Perrysburg, Ohio, native, commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Marine Corps May 16 via the Naval ROTC program at the University of Notre Dame.

2nd Lt. Hunter R. Mortemore is one of 27 Navy officers to commission from Notre Dame’s NROTC unit this year, and one of approximately 1,400 midshipmen to commission from 63 ROTC units across the nation, which provide programs to students at 167 colleges and universities across the United States.

"Leadership is foundational to our military’s success, and I rely often on the lifelong lessons that I learned as a graduate of the Notre Dame ROTC program,” said Adm. Christopher W. Grady, U.S. Fleet Forces commander, and presiding officer over the commissioning ceremony. “These new officers have chosen a life of service and sacrifice—they have willingly raised their hand to defend our homeland and protect our national interests, and I am confident that our Fleet will be stronger with them leading our future generations.”

Mortemore, a 2016 St. Francis de Sales High School graduate, will attend The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, after which he will be assigned a military occupational specialty. Mortemore majored in Computer Science and Russian while attending Notre Dame.

“I am looking forward to being around like-minded Marines and being part of the Corps family, to the adventure that comes with being a military officer, and to the many challenges I will face at TBS and in the fleet,” said Mortemore. “I am most excited, however, to lead Marines because that is what I pursued the officer course to do.”

The Naval ROTC program develops midshipmen mentally, morally and physically, to instill them with the highest ideals of duty, loyalty and Navy core values. The program provides college graduates an opportunity to commission as Navy and Marine Corps officers, who possess a basic professional background, are motivated toward careers in the Navy and Marine Corps service and have potential for future development in mind and character, so as to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.

Adm. Christopher W. Grady, U.S. Fleet Forces commander and a 1984 graduate of Notre Dame, was the keynote speaker and administered the oath of office to 52 new military officers—27 Navy, 16 Army, six Air Force and three Marines—over a live video feed.

“These are indeed unique circumstances. This once-in-a-century challenge is fundamentally changing how we do nearly everything in our lives, and this ceremony is no different. A few short months ago, we couldn’t imagine carrying out an important event like this in such a way,” said Grady, a senior mentor and Notre Dame’s first and only four-star military officer in the school’s history. “I am grateful, however, that we are commissioning our newest ensigns and second lieutenants into the finest military force the world has ever known in the distinguished manner such an achievement deserves.”

"NROTC prepares our future officers with a foundation in leadership and ethics as well as basic training in five warfighting competencies; Firefighting, Damage Control, Seamanship, Watchstanding and Small Arms Handling and Marksmanship, all essential skills in the Fleet," said Rear Adm. Jamie Sands, Commander, Naval Service Training Command, which includes the NROTC Program. "I am enormously proud of our graduating midshipman for completing this demanding program, and look forward to them joining the fleet."

“The leadership traits that the Marine Corps touts as critical to officers were all present in my NROTC training,” said Mortemore. “I think among the most important characteristics I developed in NROTC were integrity, discipline, and determination. I had the chance to both be led by and to lead my peers in the unit and grew from those experiences. I also, of course, developed the technical skills critical to success as a Marine.”

With more than 90-percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95-percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Naval officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy and Marine Corps.

“Over my four years, particularly in the last two, I have had the opportunity and privilege to help develop a number of future Marines in classes below me,” said Mortemore. “My greatest accomplishment will be seeing them succeed and follow me as 2nd Lts in the Marine Corps themselves.”

Hunter R Mortemore

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content