My boss, Col Mark Rayfield, USMC, TAMU '79 retired in a ceremony at the Alamo this morning. These are the comments our "big boss" Major General Craig Koziol, USAF, gave:
It was a pleasure and a privilege working for Col Rayfield. Please pass this to any Class of 79 Aggies you know... particularly any BQs from that era.
[This message has been edited by TX AG 88 (edited 8/11/2006 8:49p).]
quote:
Good morning everyone, and welcome. We especially welcome Mark’s family, his parents, Col and Mrs Robert S. Rayfield; Jeannine, his wife; his children, Richard, Robert, Ryan, and Kristin and special guests. Welcome to the men and women of AIA and the Joint Information Operations Center. I would also like to recognize a guest who is not here, Maj Robert S. Rayfield Jr, USMC. The reason Mark’s brother could not be here today is because he is serving in Iraq.
Thank you all for coming out to the Alamo on a very warm August morning and joining me to honor Colonel Mark Rayfield’s career of service in the United States Marine Corps.
It is only appropriate that we are here at the Alamo … hallowed ground in Texas’ history … to honor a native Texan, and a San Antonian to boot, as he retires after twenty-six years of service.
Twenty-six years is a long time, but let me take you back a little further, back to these grounds, a hundred and seventy years ago…to a chilly Spring day in 1836.
On that day, around five o’clock in the morning, about 1800 Mexican soldiers spilled over the North wall of the Alamo.
Soon, some of the bloodiest hand-to-hand fighting in history took place right here. In under 90 minutes, the battle was over. 189 Texans lay dead along with over 1600 Mexican soldiers.
In the mind of the victorious Mexican General, Santa Ana, the Texan Rebellion was all but finished.
What he did not realize, as he entered the Alamo after most of the fighting was over, was that the brave sacrifice of the men of the Alamo would inspire all Texans to unite under one idea, a free and independent Texas.
This message of freedom would be baptized in blood and dust at the Alamo and consecrated at San Jacinto six weeks later when Texans yelling “Remember the Alamo” would sweep the Mexican Army off the field.
Colonel Rayfield stepped forward twenty-six years ago and pledged, just like those Texans who stepped across the line in the sand, that he too would defend the idea of freedom.
Mark grew up in the shadow of the Alamo, here in San Antonio. He graduated from Robert E. Lee High School and went on to Texas A&M university.
There he came to value the lessons that his parents taught him, idealistic lessons such as honor and service before self and practical lessons like his Dad teaching him how to spit shine boots... A skill he later had the opportunity to perfect at Texas A&M — along with spit shining beer cans, footballs, and more.
He met his wife Jeannine, there at College Station, his “fish” year when she came up with her family to an A&M football game—she had 3 brothers in the Aggie Band with Mark at the time... (apparently, he made quite an impression, as she says she doesn’t remember this meeting.)
He graduated from Texas A&M as a member of the class of '79 and was commissioned as a 2Lt in the US Marine Corps in September 1980 upon completion of the Platoon Leaders Course.
After graduating from The Basic Course the following year, Mark began his Marine career assigned to Marine Air Support Squadron (MASS)-1, Marine Air Control Group (MACG)-28, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina.
Here, Mark began honing his skills as an Air Support Control Officer responsible for the assignment and control of Marine aircraft, including close air support, assault support, and medevacs.
The Air Support Control Officer provides the vital link between Marine air and ground forces and has one of the highest ops tempos in the Marine Corps as Mark would soon find out.
Jeannine and Mark were married in Lafayette, LA on 6 Feb 1982... on the 3rd scheduled date... due to his exercise and deployment schedule.
During the wedding, the Catholic priest, a big Louisiana State University fan and a Navy chaplain during WWII, whispered to Jeannine as she and Mark were kneeling at the altar, “Are you sure you want to do this? It’s bad enough he’s an Aggie, but he’s a Jarhead too…” (of course, Jeannine is an Aggie too, class of ’81).
Over the next few years, Mark continued to work as Air Support Control Officer as well as Air Support Radar Team OIC in all three Marine Air Support Squadrons in the Marine Corps.
It was during this time that Mark began to distinguish himself from his peers by superior performance.
Whether he was leading other Marines in the technical execution of his job as Air Support Control Officer or training others to the high standards by which he performed, Mark consistently earned the trust and high praise of his senior officers demonstrated by his selection as the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing - Air Command and Control Officer of the Year in 1985.
From there, Mark moved on to what he’ll tell you was his most unique assignment…The 1st Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV) Company, 29 Palms, California.
In addition to his primary role as Executive Officer, Mark qualified as an RPV pilot/mission commander and logged nearly 200 hours in support of combat operations in Operation Desert Storm.
From 1991 to 1994, Mark served as Air Defense/Air Control Doctrine Officer of the Aviation Doctrine Branch, at the Marine Corps Combat Development Center, Quantico, VA.
Here, he applied his technical and field expertise in authoring several Marine aviation doctrine publications as well as contributing Marine Corps perspective on joint aviation publications.
After completing Marine Corps Command and Staff College as a distinguished graduate and working a few more executive officer jobs…in 1998, Mark found his way back to Marine Air Support Squadron (MASS)-1 in Cherry Point, North Carolina to command the unit where he began his career.
In the two years, he led his beloved Marines, Colonel Rayfield left his mark…as his squadron was consistently rated the best in discipline rates, inspection results, training progression and combat readiness among the six squadrons and battalions in the group.
All of this was done while being recognized within Marine Aviation as the expert on Direct Air Support Center (DASC) operations.
Finally, in 2000, Mark arrived back in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas where he has served in various positions at the Joint Information Operations Center at Lackland AFB.
Once again, Mark distinguished himself, this time in a joint environment and was selected to be Deputy Commander of the JIOC in June 2005 where he has served until today.
Over the last 26 years, Mark has accomplished some remarkable things and they have not gone unnoticed. Here are just a few things that his commanders have said about him.
“Superior performance of duty …leadership skills uncommonly superior in quality for an officer so junior in rank (1st Lt)”
“Outwardly quiet and calm but accomplishes his duties aggressively and with confidence … a natural desire to take charge”
“An absolutely superb Captain of Marines! I’m convinced he is among the best in the Corps”
“Number one Major in the Aviation Branch … Mark Rayfield will be an asset in any command at any time”
“Outstanding leadership model under duress for subordinates to emulate … my most trusted advisor on all matters”
Mark, you’ve had a very fulfilling career, and you will certainly be missed by so many. I can’t thank you enough for your truly outstanding service…not only to the U.S. Marine Corps, but the United States of America.
On that 6th day of March 1836, the Texans at the Alamo had completed their service, just as you are about to complete yours as a United States Marine Corps officer.
But what they did that day will live on throughout history. Their sacrifice served as the catalyst to inspire others. You also leave a legacy to the information warriors still in battle.
They will fight and win on the information battlefields of today and tomorrow with the weapons you have given them.
They will be able to win the war of ideas because of your vision and hard work to prepare the Joint Information Operations Center for challenges today and in the future.
I can think of no better way to close my remarks than with the words of President Ronald Reagan. “Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have made a difference in the world. Marines don’t have that problem.”
Whatever path you choose, we know you will succeed. Mark, we all thank you for your dedicated service, and we salute you as you step into the next phase of your life! Godspeed, Semper Fi, and Gig ‘em Aggies!
It was a pleasure and a privilege working for Col Rayfield. Please pass this to any Class of 79 Aggies you know... particularly any BQs from that era.
[This message has been edited by TX AG 88 (edited 8/11/2006 8:49p).]