Marine Corps service took Sexton to Africa, Beirut
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George Sexton by his own admission was a handful growing up on a Century Farm in Calhoun County.
As a result he moved to California to live with relatives for nearly a year. The change in scenery soon presented Sexton with a choice: from a judge. The choice was to join the Marine Corps or become a guest of the state, a choice given to many young men at the time. The feeling was the military would instill discipline in undisciplined young men.
With Sexton it worked. He joined the United States Marine Corps. After boot camp in San Diego, California, he was sent to Camp Pendleton, also in California, for AIT, which is an acronym for Advanced Infantry Training.
His first duty station was in Hawaii. There were tougher assignments in the future.
After a very short time in paradise, Sexton was assigned to Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines on a Western Pacific tour of duty.
After a time in Africa, Sexton was sent to Beirut, Lebanon, then a very dangerous place. There were 72 days of combat for Sexton and his fellow Marines.
Sexton was just off the coast when two suicide truck bombs crashed into the Marine Battalion Landing Team headquarters at Beirut International Airport and killed 241 US service members, mostly Marines. It was the largest single day loss of life for the Marine Corps since the Battle of Iwo Jima in February 1945. Just minutes later, a second suicide bomber attacked the French paratrooper barracks, killing 58 troopers and six civilians. The bombers were later identified as members of Islamic Jihad.
It could be said this was Sexton's "Alive Day," a term used by veterans to commemorate the day they were nearly killed. It's a "Thank God I'm alive" dedicated to reflection.
Sexton, who made lance corporal three times, today is commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1856, adjutant of the DAV, a Marine Corps League member, former commander of AMVETS and the American Legion. He says he loves the Marine Corps to this day. He noted the Corps is the only branch where every member is a potential infantry man if needed.
When Sexton was discharged he stayed in Hawaii for a couple of years. Returning to the mainland, Sexton worked as a stone mason.
Asked why he's still so involved in veterans issues he said he has to. He said no one understands veterans like other veterans, not just the difficult times but the fun times in uniform. Like many vets he says he'd do it all again.