John Arsenault Ltcol Usmc (Ret)

After leaving the Marine Corps in 1970 I attended Mount San Antonio Community College for a semester and then hitchhiked all over the USA. In the summer of 1971, I traveled to Alaska to go hiking and camping for a couple of weeks and stayed in Alaska for the next 30 years. First working odd jobs, then went to the Prudhoe Bay Oilfield in 1974. Worked for oil drilling and support companies and was one of the pioneer “Alaska Ice Road” . In 1984, I started working in TV production. Eventually hired by KTVA - CBS, Anchorage as a Photojournalist (shooter and story editor). Formed my own Film/TV production company “Frostbite Productions” in 1990 and worked with Alaska Native Corporations, broadcast TV stations, national TV networks and film companies from NYC and LA. In 2001 was hired as a TV Producer at the PBS station KAKM, Anchorage, Alaska. In 1985 a new USMC Reserve Recon Company was established in Anchorage, Alaska. I was granted an age waiver to re-enlist as a 36 year old corporal and join “E” Company, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division. In 1987 I was designated a Force Recon Marine, 8654 (MOS). In 1990, as a Staff Sergeant, I received a field commission as a 2nd Lieutenant, infantry officer and assigned as the Commanding Officer of “E” Company. As a Major, I was called to active duty after Sept-11-2001 and served at Headquarters Marine Corps, Pentagon, Afghanistan, Iraq and Camp Delta, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Retired as a LtCol in November 2008. Continued to work in the DoD world, first at JPRA as a project lead, then at Lockheed Martin as an "Operations Integrator" for JIEDDO/COIC with assignments to Afghanistan in support of the Marines in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. My life has been blessed with my wife Tammy Jo and my daughter Claire, son in law Josh and grand daughter Leona who live in Alaska. I now spend as much time as possible on my Cape Dory sailboat, exploring Chesapeake Bay.