DUTY BOUND: (Above left) Senior Drill Instructor S/Sgt Ramirez, MCRD-SD; (Above right) A happy birthday to his son, Marcos. Pepe's family supported his assignment to Operation Iraqi Freedom III, one of the most intense assignments yet for the Marines.

culture to form the finest combat organization in the entire world. While there at the depot, Pepe again attained a meritorious promotion to Gunnery Sergeant. When asked what one thing he had learned and now uses, Pepe relates, “I realized that my leadership skills had increased exponentially as I learned which of the “hot buttons” to push to create a positive behavior in my recruits. Drill Instructor duty helped me understand my limits and the human spirit. It would serve me well for the rest of my Marine career and life.” 

Letting no grass grow under his churning feet, in 1999, Pepe’s next duty station became Camp Pendleton, California, with Ordnance Maintenance Company, 1st Maintenance Battalion, and 1st Force Service Support Group. As a Company Gunnery Sergeant, he had many jobs, including Director of the Corporal’s Course and Chief of Intelligence and Training (S-2 and S-3). He also found the time to earn a Black Belt Instructor certification in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. Additionally, Pepe enrolled in night school, which led to a bachelor’s degree in psychology. By April 2002, he became a 1st Sergeant. 

COMBAT TOURS

COMBAT TOURS By 2003, Pepe became attached to Regimental Combat Team 7, an infantry unit in Kuwait poised to strike in Iraq. His unit,

Combat Service Support Company-117, engaged in Operation Desert Freedom and the push-up to Baghdad. By October 2003, he returned home only to learn that he would re-deploy again to Iraq in four months. He returned for Operation Iraq Freedom II despite being advised that his oldest son had been diagnosed with cancer. Pepe’s family and his son mentally supported another third assignment to Operation Iraqi Freedom III, one of the most intense assignments yet for the Marines. Pepe witnessed TBIs and post-traumatic stress firsthand. There are no textbooks for the circumstances and realities of duty in three tours of combat.

Pepe witnessed TBIs and post-traumatic stress firsthand. There are no textbooks for the realities of duty in three tours of combat.

ACHIEVEMENT IN TOUGH TIMES

Pepe was promoted to the most admired and sought-after enlisted rank the United States Marine Corps bestows, Sergeant Major, USMC. His family – wife, Rose, and their six children – attended his promotion ceremony to that distinguished rank in March 2007. Sadly, his oldest son, Marcos, succumbed to cancer two weeks later.

The Marine Corps did not miss the opportunity to utilize Pepe's expertise as he began winding down his career. Reporting to 4th Marine Division Headquarters in New Orleans, Louisiana, Pepe established and standardized the Division's