In 2022, Sergeant Major Bradley Kasal invited me to take pictures at the United States Marine Corps birthday celebration organized by the Greater Nevada Detachment of the Marine Corps League. There, our students from the high school we taught at were performing. These students, all of whom have since graduated, exemplify achievement and service to their community and families. A few of them were also my students and I’m grateful to have been a small part of their lives.
Held at the Orleans in Las Vegas that year, the birthday celebration for the Marines included the usual historical pageant, which was performed by students from Basic (not basic training).
These students had practiced countless hours under the direction SgtMaj Kasal. Nearly every day I left school well after the school day was over (#yearbooklife), I would see this or that group of the MCJROTC practicing something in the quad or on the soccer field as I walked to my car. Rifles in the air. Physical training. Something.
After retiring from the United States Marine Corps, SgtMaj Kasal came to teach at Basic. I was fortunate enough to have met and worked with him, and especially with that terrible time of trying to teach online during COVID, when I was happy to assist SgtMaj and many of our other colleagues go online. If ever a person could be summarized by one word, you could summarize him as embodying true integrity.