Sergerant Major, Marine Corps Base

Sergeant Major Price enlisted in the Marine Corps in April 1974 and began recruit training at 3d Battalion Parris Island South Carolina. Following recruit training Sergeant Major Price was assigned to MATSG-90 in Millington Tennessee for basic helicopter training and graduated in March of 1975.

He was transferred to MCAS Tustin California and joined HMT-301 for advanced training as a CH-53 mechanic. In November of 1975 Sergeant Major Price transferred to 1st MAW Okinawa Japan and joined HMM-462 as a flight line mechanic. In May of 1976 Sergeant Major Price qualified as a Crew Chief on the CH-53D helicopter and served in this capacity until June of 1976 when he was transferred to HMM-165 aboard the USS Okinawa. In December of 1976 Sergeant Major Price transferred to 3d MAW Tustin California and assigned the duties of Crew Chief and Mechanic with HMH-361. Promoted to Sergeant in March of 1977, Sergeant Major Price continued to serve with the squadron as Section Leader on the flight line. He participated in the first CH-53 unit deployment to Okinawa in June of 1979.

Following his second deployment Sergeant Major Price was transferred to MCRD San Diego California where he served as Drill Instructor and Senior Drill Instructor in “A” Company 1st Recruit Training Battalion from August of 1981 until September 1983. Sergeant Major Price was meritoriously promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in July 1983 and was assigned the duties of Drill Master of 1st Recruit Training Battalion until January 1985.

He then transferred to MCAS Tustin California and joined HMH-361 and began serving as Flight Line NCOIC, completing two UDP cycles before being transferred to HMT-302 in November 1987. While at HMT-302 Sergeant Major Price filled the billets of Quality Assurance Chief and Flight Line Chief until his promotion to First Sergeant in May of 1989.

Sergeant Major Price attended the Advanced SNCO Course in Quantico Virginia and after graduation in September of 1989 transferred to 2nd Light Anti Aircraft Missile Battalion in Yuma Arizona. While in 2d LAAM Bn Sergeant Major Price served as First Sergeant of "B" Battery until reassignment in September of 1991 with "A" Battery in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Upon return from Saudi Arabia Sergeant Major Price was reassigned as First Sergeant for H&S Battery until transferred to 3d Marine Division Okinawa Japan in January 1993. He served as H&S Company First Sergeant, of 3d Combat Engineer Battalion until promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major in April 1994.

Sergeant Major Price has served as the Sergeant Major of HMM-262 while the Squadron was the Air Combat Element of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Sergeant Major of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron-13 and Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-1 at MCAS Yuma Arizona, Sergeant Major of the 4th Force Service Support Group in New Orleans, Louisiana, and assumed his current duties as the Sergeant Major of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton on 1 August 2002.

Sergeant Major Price' decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with two Gold Stars, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Gold Star, Humanitarian Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal and Kuwait Liberation Medal (K).