Brian Gillette U.S. Marines 1991-1997

Brian Gillette was interviewed by Zelma Krone, Madison Larsen, and Lila Andreasen

"Freedom means having the ability to enjoy life. Not having to be guided everywhere and having free will."

That was how Brian Gillette responded to the question, “What does freedom mean to you?” We are honored to share the story of Brian Gillette and how he served our country as a Marine.

Brian was born on October 5th, 1973. He grew up with his mother, father, and older brother, William, in California. His dad owned a business in California, and his mom was a housewife. He later moved from Modesto, California, to Beloit, Kansas, when he was twenty-five. He has lived in Beloit, Kansas, for twenty-one years now.

School was not Brian’s favorite. Even though he did not like it that much, he stated, “I was still an overall good student,” at Thomas Downey High School. Brian did not get in trouble but “did just enough to get by.” He also said, “Throughout my school years, I was a quiet, shy kid who loved nature.” He enjoyed fishing and bowling while growing up, and he loves doing these activities today. Brian graduated high school in 1992. Later, he attended the NCK Tech plumbing, heating, and air program in Beloit, graduating in 2003.

When Brian was seventeen, he found out about joining the military from one of his friends. Brian’s friend had told him about a pool meeting that was coming up, and Brian decided that he would go. Brian did not exactly know what he was going to do after high school, but he also did not know that he was going to enlist in the Marines. Brian and his friend both attended the pool meeting where the recruiters taught them a little about the experience they might have in the Marines. Brian liked what they showed him and decided that he might join. The recruiters told him he could not join yet, but he could sign up and join when he was eighteen so that is what he ended up doing. He thought that joining the Marines would be easy, but he ended up realizing it was not.

Brian received his military training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. He went into his training blind as to what he was going to experience. He found out that it was tough with running and drills that were not easy. For those who did not know what they wanted to do in the military, they took a test that gave them results of their strengths and what jobs would be best for them. Brian’s test results showed that he should be an engine mechanic. He then decided that that was what he was going to do.

Brian joined the Marines in 1991. The conditions in the Marines were strict but fair for Brian. Brian said that the Marines received three meals a day of “pretty decent” food, but he also said that after training, any food sounded good. During his training, the Marines always had to be informed, and when wanting to request something, they had to say, “this recruit requesting permission.” They also had designated camouflage woodlands for their uniforms. Sometimes the recruits had to put their clothes on in under two minutes after they got out of the showers. Additionally, Brian had to be up at 5:00 A.M. and had to be in bed and asleep by 10:00 P.M. They slept in two-story bunk beds, which were not that comfortable, but they were “doable at the end of a hard day.” On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays they had PT (Physical Training), which consisted of running and working out in the gym. The weather was rainy most of the time, so the Marines worked out in the rain, but it was not that bad according to Brian because they were working hard most of the time and not aware of the weather. In Brian’s free time, which he only got one hour and thirty minutes per day, he wrote letters to his mom, and she would often write back. He was given only two weeks of leave time in boot camp and training.

After his training, Brian was sent to Twentynine Palms, California. Twentynine Palms was hot and dry, almost the complete opposite from where he had his training previously. Brian said that it was, “pretty much a desert.” While he was there, he worked on generators. Brian did not like the way his commanders and Marine officers communicated with him. He also did not like the way they ranked Marines. However, Brian loved serving his country and said that gave him joy every day.

During Brian’s time in the Marines, he made some fairly close friends. Though making friends was easy, he said that once he made a close friend, often the friend would be sent off somewhere new. Scott Henderson was one corporal who took Brian under his wing. Joshua was another one of the friends Brian met, but sadly, Brian has not talked to him in years. Even though Brian has become separated from most of his military friends, he has stayed in contact with one or two.

Brian said he worked with some bad and good commanding officers in the Marines. The lower-ranking soldiers, he found, were much easier to talk to. He had a nice one, Commander Witt, who was high-ranking though. Witt later left because his wife was giving birth to a baby.

Brian had a few scary Marine experiences. One time bombs were accidentally dropped on a field in Twentynine Palms that was meant to be a dead zone. They could feel a bomb even though it was over six miles away. When the bomb was almost dropped on them, Brian said that their Marine Corps officers were panicked and alarmed. Another time they also almost had supplies dropped on top of them. Even though Brian was not in a war, he still experienced dangerous situations. Brian has been awarded a National Defense Medal and a Conduct Medal for his service. He earned the rank of E4 Corporal.

Brian wanted to end his tour in the Marine Corps because he had a child on the way and wanted to be there for the child. Brian remembered that his dad worked long hours as a truck driver and had to be away from his family often while Brian was growing up, and Brian wanted to be more involved in his own child's life. When Brian’s tour ended, he felt happy but lost at the same time. Brian said he wondered if he had made the right decision by leaving the Marine Corps.

Brian met his first wife in the military in 1996, and they had one daughter. They divorced in 1999, and Brian then applied for a maintenance job at USD 273 and met his current wife Nicole while working at the elementary school. They married in 2011. In all, he has a daughter in Glen Elder named Bria, who is twenty-five, a son named Braden, who is a sophomore, another daughter Alaina in fourth grade, and son Lucas in kindergarten. Brian is now working at Beloit Junior-Senior High School as a custodian. He enjoys spending time with his wife and children.

“Keep your eyes open. It is easier for our generation to fall for the untrue. Be as wise as the people that were before us. Make sure you are thinking for yourself and not following people around just because they are trending or popular.”

Those are the knowledgeable words that Brian wants our generation to know.

We thank Brian for his service and were glad that we had the opportunity to interview him.