Beaufort County’s Thomas Loving, 66, joined the United States Marine Corps in Planeville, Ill., in 1975. After Boot Camp at Parris Island and Infantry training at Camp Lejeune, he began a series of assignments, mostly providing security services. He was stationed at Quantico, Va., in Hawaii and at Norfolk, Va., where he was at the Atlantic Fleet Commander’s headquarters and where he also worked with the Naval Sea Cadets. He then served at Twentynine Palms, Calif.; Recruiting Station Grand Rapids, Mich.; MCAS Tustin, Calif.; and MCAS El Toro, Calif.; on Okinawa; and at Camp Pendleton, from which he deployed to Saudi Arabia and was with the first units to invade Iraq during Desert Storm. His final assignment was at MCAS Beaufort, from which he retired as a Staff Sergeant with 21 years of service. Thereafter, he served as a Police Officer in Bluffton for 10 years and in Hardeeville for another 10 years. Today he is Pastor of New Covenant Baptist Church in Hardeeville.
Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 207. For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com.
