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"chink," he received his first "basic training" on those streets and learned the fine art of survival. Pepe recalls, "The fights were their special way, their ritual of welcoming me to their neighborhoods and sizing me up."

Later Pepe’s family moved to Houston, Texas, where he graduated from Klein Forest High School. Throughout his growing up, he was continually inspired by his family members who had served our country’s military. 1988 found him solidly immersed in the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot-San Diego, beginning his brilliant and successful career with the Marines. Upon graduation, he was meritoriously promoted to Lance Corporal and selected to attend machinist school at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. After completing his schooling, he was off to the 3rd Force Service Support Group in Okinawa, Japan, where he quickly and meritoriously picked up the rank of Corporal. Finding his way into the non-commissioned officers’ school, he quickly became a meritorious Sergeant with less than two years in the Corps. He found himself responsible for Marines as a Platoon Sergeant

As the Persian Gulf War began, Pepe received orders to the Philippines in 1991. However, there would be no combat tour just yet for the Sergeant. Instead, he first attended jungle envi

ronment survival training and learned to survive in a hot and hostile jungle with a bag of rice, a machete, and a small first aid kit.

After jungle school, he reported to Quantico, Virginia, becoming a Marine combat instructor in water survival. As he describes, “It was the most challenging course I ever attended. I started the training at 135 pounds and wound up weighing 105 pounds by the end of the training. Only seven of the fifty starting students graduated. However, this training helped me later, when I was able to save a young girl from drowning and was subsequently awarded the Navy Achievement Medal.”

"This Sergeant Major has been there. When he talks to you, the connection is immediate. He knows exactly how each of us feels and why."

LEARNING LEADERSHIP AND MAKING MARINES

In 1994, Pepe served in the Marine Air Logistics Squadron 36 at Futenma Air Station in Okinawa, Japan, and became a Staff Sergeant. Then, he received orders to return to Marine Corps Recruit Depot-San Diego, California, to become a Drill Instructor, one of the most coveted of assignments in the Corps.

The beginning of leadership is well established on the drill field. It is the most important job and the essence of the Marine