With the China Marines

Morgan Rempel is a 2017 graduate of Saratoga Middle/High School. Following his graduation, Rempel enlisted with the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and has been serving si nce June 2017. According to his mother, Carrie Garcia, Rempel advanced as a Scout Swimmer for the Alpha Raiders. He is currently stationed in Camp Pendleton, California and is a 1st Battalion, 4th Marines Alpha Raider, also known as the China Marines.

The 1/4 Marines were originally activiated in April 1911 and first saw combat in November 1916 in the Dominican Republic. From February 1927 to November 1941, the 1/4 Marines served in Shanghai, which earned them the nickname the China Marines. Since then, it has become practice to use the China dragon in both official and unofficial logos and mastheads.

Following their time in China, the 1/4 Marines were deployed to the Philippines to defend the American colony during World War II. The China Marines were also used during the Vietnam War, beginning in the spring of 1965 and were used in a total of eight operations ranging from Operation Prairie to Operation Napoleon/Saline.

After the events of September 11, the China Marines were deployed to the Middle East in support of the Global War on Terror. They aided in initial combat operations in Afghanistan before becoming part of the initial invasion force in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The most recent involvement in the Middle East for the 1/4 Marines was in 2017 when they were deployed to Syria to provide artillery support to forces working to eject ISIL from the city of Raqqa.

"In March 2018, he went to the United Kingdom where they trained with the Royal Marines," wrote Garcia in an email to the Saratoga Sun. "In November 2018, his platoon was deployed for seven months to Okinawa, Japan where they boarded the USS Ashland."

Earlier this year, in August, Rempel and the China Marines were sent to the southern border of the United States to assist with border patrol. As of October, the China Marines have returned to Camp Pendleton where they are currently training and awaiting orders for their next mission.

"Morgan was a leader and role model in Saratoga for those around him and continues to thrive in his leadership role as a squad leader in his platoon," Garcia wrote.