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<p>Beaufort’s Steve Switzer, 69, joined the United States Marine Corps at 17 years old in Syracuse, N.Y., in 1970. After boot camp at Parris Island, he trained as a Heavy Equipment Operator at Camp Lejeune before being assigned to Quantico, Va., to work in construction.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Switzer next transferred to Okinawa, the first of four tours there. In between each tour saw him at MCAS Beaufort working with heavy equipment. While at Okinawa he deployed to Thailand where he worked with the Thai Marines.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>His final assignment was back at MCAS Beaufort, his fourth tour there. He retired in 1991 after 21 years of service as a Master Sergeant. He then served our community for 17 years as a police office, first with the City of Beaufort City and then with the Town of Port Royal.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Today, Switzer is the Worshipful Master of the Port Royal Masonic Lodge 242 and an active Shriner,&nbsp; taking children to the Shriners Hospital in Greenville.</p>
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<p><em>Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 9. For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact </em><a href="mailto:jechubb1@gmail.com"><em>jechubb1@gmail.com</em></a><em>.</em></p>
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