1st Sergeant William Bodette

1st Sergeant Bodette, a native of Clearwater, Florida, enlisted in the United States Marine in 1988. 1st Sergeant Bodette has received numerous awards, accommodations and special recognition as he has moved up the enlisted ranks. From 2000 to 2004 1st Sergeant Bodette served as a Drill Instructor prior to his deployment in support of both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. During this deployment 1st Sergeant Bodette was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” for valor. In 2006, 1st Sergeant Bodette was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal the Purple Heart. 1st Sergeant Bodette was assigned as the Training Staff Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the 2nd Marine Division in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and in April 2007, as the Company 1st Sergeant, Headquarters Battalion, Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany, Georgia. Currently 1st Sergeant Bodette is serving as an Inspector-Instructor in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he is responsible for the training and morale of over 180 reserve and active duty Marines and their families and coordinating community relation events. 1st Sergeant Bodette’s personal decorations include: Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V”, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat “V”, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement with 2 gold stars in lieu of the 3rd award, and the Combat Action Ribbon with 3 gold stars in lieu of the 4th award. He has been featured on the History Channel multiple times to describe his experiences fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.