Staff Sgt. Siriporn Nakphinphat, administrations chief for Marine Corps Base Camp S.D. Butler, stands beside a fruit vendor in Pattaya, Thailand, Jan. 3, as she holds rambutan fruit, which happens to be her favorite fruit. She came to Thailand in support of Exercise Cobra Gold 2009

After living in the United States for 19 years, 15 of which she has worn the uniform of a U.S. Marine, Staff Sgt. Siriporn Nakphinphat returned to Thailand in support of Exercise Cobra Gold 2009.

Cobra Gold is a regularly scheduled joint/coalition multinational exercise hosted annually by the Kingdom of Thailand, and it is focused on improving military-to-military relationships among its participants.

Nakphinphat was born in Ratchuburi Thailand, but her grandmother, Suon Soiouwan, and grandfather, Lean Wongyai, raised her in a modest coastal fishing village consisting of about 300 families, called Bangkunsai.

At age 16, she moved to the United States to live in Kansas City, Mo., where she joined some of her family who were already residing there.

While in Kansas City, she attended four years of high school and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps shortly thereafter.

Nakphinphat decided to join the Marine Corps because she came from a military family, having one uncle in the Royal Thai Navy and another uncle in the Thai Army, both of whom she always held in high regard.

A Marine Corps recruiter called Nakphinphat one day, and she immediately went to the recruiting station after the conversation. Upon arrival, all she asked was “how soon do I leave?” When she told her mother, Mayuree Newland, that she joined the Corps, the only thing her mother asked was, “why not the Navy?”

Nakphinphat’s mother was very proud of her brother who was in the Royal Thai Navy, and she had hopes that one of her children would follow in his footsteps.

Nakphinphat’s answer to her mother was elegant in its simplicity, “I don’t like white uniforms.” But she also added, “I joined for my future and for you.”

At 19 years old, Nakphinphat set off for U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Training. Although only her mother and one of her cousins believed she could last, she said recruit training was easier for her than most people. “The way I was raised was like boot camp. You just do what you are ordered to do,” Nakphinphat said.

“I have matured and learned a lot by [serving] in the Marine Corps, and I love it,” said Nakphinphat. Nakphinphat is currently serving as the administration chief for Marine Corps Base Camp S. D. Butler in Okinawa, Japan.

She is very thankful that she had the opportunity to return to Thailand for Cobra Gold this year. “I know for sure that with my language background, I can contribute to this exercise,” Nakphinphat said.

Nakphinphat sees Cobra Gold as a “demonstration of friendship between the U.S. and Thailand” – the two countries she calls home.

Nakphinphat plans to retire from the Marine Corps after a full career and return to her family in Kansas City, and she may eventually move back to Thailand.

DVIDS
Story by Lance Cpl. Daniel A. Flynn

Chris Jackson, a network cameraman, and Marines from Multi-National Force and Corps-Iraq pose for a group picture at an awards ceremony Jan. 24

On Aug. 3, 2003, while traveling the dangerous roads of Afghanistan, a cameraman working for FOX News risked his life to save a U.S. Marine from a vehicle engulfed in flames.

While embedded with 2nd Platoon, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, cameraman Chris Jackson’s vehicle hit 50 pounds of homemade explosives. The humvee occupants escaped the flaming vehicle, all but the vehicle commander, Sgt. Courtney Rauch.

The blast severely injured Rauch and knocked him unconscious. Jackson, despite having received shrapnel wounds himself, rushed back to the vehicle, pulled Rauch out and carried him to safety.

“Without Chris’ quick thinking and heroic act, I would have lost my life that day,” Rauch said. “Chris forgot about being a reporter that day and became one of our bothers and acted as one of us. Chris went above and beyond his duty.”

Jackson, who now works for CNN/Turner Broadcasting, was presented the Department of the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award, the second highest award given to civilians by the Navy, for his actions. Jackson received the award during a stop in Iraq en route to India. An audience of appreciative Marines was on hand during the ceremony.

Marine Maj. Gen. Paul Lefebvre, deputy commanding general, Multi-National Corps – Iraq, has a son in the very same company with which Jackson was traveling. Lefebvre, who presented the award on behalf of the Navy, asked his son if all the wonderful things being said about Jackson were true.

“I asked him ‘is this the real thing’ and he said ‘yeah dad, this guy’s a hero’,” Lefebvre said. “This was not an everyday action. It came from somewhere deep inside and shows such a level of courage and commitment.”

When told in front of the crowd of digital cammies why he was invited to Al Faw Palace, Jackson blushed. “It goes to show that Marines have a good sense of humor,” he said. “I was told I was coming here for a briefing.”

Jackson, who has been out with servicemembers in combat zones since 2001, said he didn’t think twice about risking his own life to save someone else’s.

“I wasn’t thinking. I saw there was trouble and I didn’t even think about grabbing a camera and filming it,” Jackson said. “I just did what anyone else would do if someone was in trouble.”

MNF-I