[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 157 (Wednesday, September 27, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E896-E897]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE OF CORPORAL WILLIAM THEODOR TURNER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DIANA HARSHBARGER

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 27, 2023

  Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Corporal William 
Theodor Turner of the United States Marine Corps of Johnson City in 
Washington County, Tennessee.
  Corporal Turner enlisted, along with his friend Norris Shell, in the 
United States Marine Corps on May 18, 1956. He went to Boot Camp in 
Parris Island, South Carolina in May until September of that year. 
While at Parris Island, he was one of two Marines promoted to the rank 
of Private First Class. After leaving Parris Island, he was stationed 
at Camp Geiger/Camp Lejeune for advanced infantry training for 
approximately one month. After Camp Lejeune, he was transferred to the 
Sixth Marines, 2nd Division Line Company.
  While he was at Camp Lejeune, a Major and a Sergeant came down from 
Washington, D.C. to recruit candidates for service at 8th and I. Every 
day, Corporal Turner and his unit drilled for at least a week. The 
Major and Sergeant asked a selected group of Marines if they were 
interested in serving at 8th and I. Corporal Turner responded Yes. A 
stipulation of serving at 8th and I was that whatever rank you held 
when you first entered that duty remained the same. While at 8th and I, 
Corporal

[[Page E897]]

Turner was a member of the first Evening Parade. He also participated 
in President Eisenhower's second Inauguration Parade.
  While in Washington, D.C., Corporal Turner began training as part of 
the Silent Drill Team. He was in the First Platoon. His platoon trained 
at 8th and I, and at Camp David. As part of their duties, he met 
foreign dignitaries flying into D.C. at the airport.
  After a clearance by the FBI and Secret Service, along with 5 other 
Marines, Corporal Turner was selected to be in the Presidential Guard. 
He was assigned to guard the parameter around the President in his 
office, while at Camp David or anywhere else he may be. President 
Eisenhower gave each Marine an engraved pin knife with his name on it. 
Corporal Turner has kept his pin knife to this day.
  Corporal Turner's first assignment was to accompany President 
Eisenhower to Newport, Rhode Island in October of 1957. He was 
reassigned at this point to the Secret Service. The Secret Service told 
him to forget everything the Marines had trained him for and that if 
anyone and they meant anyone entered the area where the President was, 
he was to shoot them and that they (the Secret Service) would take care 
of the details. Corporal Turner recollects that he would have probably 
shot his own grandmother.
  While at 8th and I, he represented the United States at a sporting 
event in Bermuda called the British Tattoo Festival. He flew from 
Washington, D.C. to Bermuda on the Marine Commandant's private plane. 
On Corporal Turner's return from Bermuda, the Commandant's private 
plane or any form of transportation was not available to fly him back 
to Washington, D.C. The only transport available was a C-119. He was 
then given one day's parachute training. Upon departure, Corporal 
Turner received a parachute, shark repellant and a life preserver for 
the flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Thankfully, he did not have to 
use any of that assigned equipment.
  After 2 years at 8th and I, he earned the rank of Corporal. Following 
his retirement from active-duty service, Corporal Turner joined the 
United States Marine Corps Reserves and proudly served his country for 
another 4 years.
  Please join me in thanking Corporal William Theodor Turner for his 
distinguished military service to the United States of America.

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