A Harrier Jet Pilot True to the Creed, ‘Every Marine a Rifleman’
Marc Weintraub: A Harrier Jet Pilot True to the Creed, ‘Every Marine a Rifleman’
A memorial service was held recently for Lt. Col. Chris “Otis” Raible at my former Marine base in Yuma, Ariz. It was a moving ceremony that required overflow seating outside the chapel. Even in Yuma’s 100-degree heat, not a chair went empty.
Lt. Col. Raible’s fellow commanders and most of the Marine Corps’ leadership on the West Coast were in attendance. Fellow Marines of all ranks and ages, and civilians from the local community all took time to pay their respects. Wives and children of Marines still deployed wept not only for Donnella Raible and her three children, but also for this painful reminder that their loved ones are still in harm’s way.
The tributes were poignant. Col. Michael Gough, Marine Air Group 13 commander and Lt. Col. Raible’s boss, described him as the consummate leader, whether in taking care of his Marines at home in Arizona or leading from the front to mount a counterattack to defend his base. Quite simply, Col. Gough said, “he led.”
One of the more touching tributes was given by Chief Warrant Officer Two Robert J. Lopez. He told the gathering about a time, prior to this deployment, when he faced some extraordinarily pressing family matters and was given the option of deploying or remaining in Arizona. Lt. Col. Raible, knowing that this Marine would agonize over the decision and wouldn’t want to let down his squadron mates, called him into his office, sat him down, and told him that he would remain behind in Arizona as part of the squadron’s rear party.