7-25-15 ... SGTMAJ FRED FENWICK REUNITES WITH GEN. JOHN M. PAXTON, JR., 36 YEARS LATER

Here is a short story that may interest the 8th & I members.

General Paxton (Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps) and Sergeant Major Fenwick USMC (Ret) Reunite after 36 years

My daughter is a volunteer at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. She dedicates her time on weekends to assist visitors at the front desk. Saturday July 25, 2015 I went with her and during her lunch break we ate at the museum Tun Tavern. As I was sipping on my Bud Light beer I noticed a group of about eight men in the far corner. One looked very familiar to me. I told my daughter, "I think I served at Marine Barracks 8th & I, Washington, DC with one of the men in the group. I can't quite remember his last name but it begins with "Pax." He was a damned good officer, really down to earth with good common sense." I told her I would check to see if it was actually him on our way out.

After we ate I wandered over to their table and asked him, "We served together at Marine Barracks 8th & I, didn't we?" He immediately stood up, shook my hand and said loudly, "Gunny Fenwick! I'm Paxton, how have you been? I've been thinking about you lately. God bless you! You were in B Company at 8th & I, correct?" I said yes and he asked what I had been up to. I told him about publishing four books with the theme of a Marine family of Five Marine brothers and about the five of them having a cumulative total of 72 years of honest and faithful service. He replied, "Good on you! That's just great." I then introduced him to my daughter. As he kept rubbing and patting my shoulder he told my daughter, "Your dad was a great Marine, just a great Marine! We were old buddies up at 8th & I."

We continued with some small talk and then I was about to say goodbye still not realizing what title he held. It never really dawned on me as I was just happy to see him. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a commemorative coin and placed it in my hand. I thanked him and he gave me his business card and told me to get in touch with him on the "Net." My daughter and I left the Tun Tavern so she could get back to work at the front desk and while walking down the hallway I told her, "Well I'll be, I just talked to the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and didn't even realize it."

It was very good to see four-star General John M. Paxton Jr. after 36 years.

Note: I can just imagine the thoughts that were going through the minds of the gentlemen sitting at the table with the Assistant Commandant. They probably thought, "Who is this guy with the brass balls who approaches the Assistant Commandant like they are old drinking buddies. haha! What can I say...it's the Fenwick way.

General Paxton was my reporting senior for a short period of time prior to me transferring to Okinawa for a one year tour. We both were assigned to the Marine Corps Marathon Office at Marine Barracks 8th & I. He had also been the company commander of B Company. For my Transfer Fitness Report, "then Captain Paxton," wrote this paragraph in the comments section. The period only covered Feb 1, 1980 - Apr 14, 1980.

An energetic and attentive SNCO, SSgt FENWICK has performed admirably as an Operations Chief. He has successfully developed and employed a variety of logistical and administrative programs while assuming fiscal and operational control of over 8000 runners 850 Marines and a $75,000 plus budget. In particular, he has spent significant hours of time in authoring and implementing a concise but complete set of marathon turnover notes, insuring continuity to this national event. His strongest assets, demonstrated daily during the reporting period are his organizational and instructional abilities. He has a logical approach, good perception and is meticulously accurate. An efficient teacher, he has instilled discipline and efficiency in a new staff while maintaining morale. Versatile and enduring, he works thoroughly and with minimum supervision. SSgt FENWICK keeps himself in fine shape and is impressive in uniform. He would make an excellent OCS instructor.

Regards, 8th & I Marine SgtMaj Frederick Fenwick, B Company, 1977-80 / USMC (Ret.), Stafford, VA