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My Story - Bob Parcell
Last Updated on 07/01/12
After graduating from Catalina High School, I attended Northern Arizona University and graduated with a degree in Forestry. During college, and for several years thereafter, I made a living as a USFS "groundpounder" and Smokejumper and fought fire in most western states and Alaska. In 1974, I attended U. S. Marine Corps Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. I served stateside at Camp Pendleton, CA and then in Okinawa and other areas in WestPac. While in Okinawa, I completed a Master's Degree in Human Resources Management through Pepperdine University, trained in SCUBA diving, and made many 200 Ft+ dives. After five years as a regular Marine Corps Infantry Officer I returned to Smokejumping with the USFS in Missoula, MT. During this four year period, I completed a total of 120 parachute jumps and qualified as an FAA Senior Parachute Rigger. In 1982, I began a career in law enforcement with the Missoula County Sheriff's Department. After seven years in the main part of the county, I was selected to serve as the resident deputy in the Seeley-Swan area where I currently live with my wife and children. My duties here include Zone 5 Patrolman, Search and Rescue Coordinator, Coroner, Detective, Rescue/Recovery Diver, School Resource Officer, Law Dog Handler, Smokejumper Liaison Officer, Snowmobile Patrolman, and Boat/Personal Watercraft Patrolman. During my service here I have been awarded the Purple Heart for being wounded in the line of duty, the Armed Action Medal for being involved in a gun battle, and the Life-Saving Ribbon for saving the life of a dying hunter. My work has given me the honor of being the 1992 Local Law Officer of the year, the 1993 Montana State Law Officer of the Year, and the 2001 American Legion Montana Law Officer of the Year. On 14 April 1994, I received a Presidential Certificate of Commendation from President Clinton at the White House. In the USMC Reserve, I served as a Forward Observer, Platoon Commander, Executive Officer, and Commanding Officer for Battery "A", 1st BN, 14th Marines in Spokane, WA. After that, I joined 1/14 as Artillery Liaison Officer, then as the S-1 Adjutant. In 1991, I was activated with 1/14 in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. During this activation, I also participated in Exercise Battle Griffin in Norway. After deactivation, I joined the 23rd Marine Regiment as an Assistant Operations Officer and then the Tactical Training Exercise Control Group, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, 29 Palms, CA as the IMA Detachment Head/Tactical Exercise Coordinator. One month after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in 2001, I was once again mobilized, this time in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Noble Eagle. I performed as Officer-In-Charge, Crisis Action Team, G-3 Operations, Marine Forces Pacific, Camp Smith, Hawaii, then as Head of the Command Support Branch which incorporated the Crisis Action Team, the Force Command Center, and the Training Cell in the G-3. After two years, I was deactivated on 30 October 2003 and returned to civilian law enforcement in Montana. In August 2004, I was once again activated in support of OIF II-2 and served as the Director, Iraqi Police Service, Iraqi Security Forces, First Marine Division, Camp Blue Diamond, Ar Ramadi, Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Upon returning stateside, I served as the Assistant Chief of Staff for the First Force Service Support Group at Camp Pendleton, CA. My USMC career culminated in mid-2005 when I retired as a Colonel after 30 1/2 years of active and reserve service. Since that time, I have been able to concentrate on my law enforcement career and hiking and hunting in the Big Sky. “Message to the Class” 9 11 2001...Never Fear, But Never Forget! Semper FI! Bob Parcell |
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