Frankie Segarra

Frankie Segarra
MGySgt. Frankie Segarra
Born	1960 (age 55–56) New York City, NY
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1980-present
Rank	Master Gunnery Sergeant
Unit	Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group
Commands held	Paraloft chief, Landing Support Company
Battles/wars	Operation Desert Shield Operation Desert Storm

Master Gunnery Sergeant Frankie Segarra (born 1960), is the first Hispanic to reach the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant in his Military Occupational Specialty, 0451 air delivery specialist.

Early years

Segarra's parents moved from Puerto Rico and settled in New York City where Segarra was born and raised. After graduating from high school he joined the Marine Corps and received his basic training in Parris Island, South Carolina.^[1]

Master Gunnery Sergeant

MGySgt Segarra, a veteran of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, is the first Hispanic and for that matter the first Puerto Rican Master Gunnery Sergeant acting as paraloft chief, Landing Support Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group in Camp Smedley D. Butler located in Okinawa, Japan.^[2]

Master Gunnery Sergeant and the rank of Sergeant Major are the highest enlisted ranks in the Marine Corps; however, there are far fewer Master Gunnery Sergeants than Sergeants Major.

Other notable Hispanics with the pay grade of E-9 include:

The Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps John L. Estrada, who on June 27, 2003 became the first Hispanic promoted to that rank, and
MGySgt Abigail D. Olmos, who on August 13, 2004 became the first female Master Gunnery Sergeant in the history of the Marine Corps.
Sergeant Major Jose Luis Santiago, who has the distinction of being the 2nd Battalion 9th Marines first Hispanic Sergeant Major and its first Sergeant Major since its reactivation on July 13, 2007.

Hispanic Heritage Month

During the observance of "Hispanic Heritage Month" at Camp Foster in Okinawa, Japan, MGySgt Segarra was quoted as saying "My role as the first Hispanic Marine to achieve the rank of master gunnery sergeant in my military occupational specialty shows that Hispanic Marines can achieve anything".^[1]

Awards and decorations

References

1 2 "Hispanic Heritage Month". Marine Corps News. October 1, 2004. Archived from the original on 2004-11-12. Retrieved 2006-05-16.
↑ ""Making A Difference In Our Communities And Our Nation" — Hispanic Heritage Month". Puerto Rico Herald. October 5, 2004. Archived from the original on 2004-11-28. Retrieved 2005-10-03.

External links

""Making A Difference In Our Communities And Our Nation" — Hispanic Heritage Month". Puerto Rico Herald. October 5, 2004. Archived from the original on 2004-11-28. Retrieved 2005-10-03.

Fred Zimmerman (November 18, 2004). "Plane problems ground Talon Vision exercise, but training goes on". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2006-05-16.

"Hispanic Heritage Month". Marine Corps News. October 1, 2004. Archived from the original on 2004-11-12. Retrieved 2006-05-16.

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