CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq -- It’s said that the mission of the U.S. Marine Corps is mission accomplishment and troop welfare, one working in concert with the other.
The 28-year-old Manning, S.C., native, Sgt. Antwoin L. Hilton, holds this ideal true.
“I take care of the platoon,” said the platoon sergeant for the Motor Transport section, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. “I help with [administration] problems; help with convoys, making sure the Marines load what needs to be loaded.”
According to Hilton, the morale and wellbeing of his Marines is extremely important.
“It’s just second nature for me to take care of the platoon,” Hilton added.
Hilton, a ten-year-veteran, came to the battalion from a long line of outfits throughout the Marine Corps.
“Before coming here, I worked in Okinawa, Quantico, and as an instructor at the Motor-T school at Camp Johnson, N.C.,” he said.
One of his students at Camp Johnson serves with Hilton in Iraq.
“He was a good instructor, he always kept the morale up and took care of his Marines,” said Boston native, Cpl. Michael B. Shereuburn, a mechanic with the Motor-T section.
One of the things Hilton recently helped with in terms of morale building was picking up gym equipment as far away as Fallujah and trucking it back to Al Qa’im.
“I like to get the Marines things if they need it,” said Hilton with a contagious smile. “I’m stern when I need to be, otherwise not. You can’t walk around stern all the time, morale will drop.”
Hilton just recently reenlisted for a period of two years and will be remaining with 3rd Battalion.
“These Marines are good, real good,” he said.