Mitchell Oshkeshequoam, a member of the Menominee Nation of Wisconsin, has been in the Marine Corps for less than two years but has already earned two awards and is on his way to a third.
“I want to be better than I was yesterday,” Oshkeshequoam said. “Always giving it your best is something I want to hold true in my life.”
Oshkeshequoam grew up on the Menominee Reservation. “I learned mental toughness and esprit de corps from boot camp, but I learned my morals and values from my people, he said.
When he arrived at base camp in Hawaii, Oshkeshequoam was only able to do nine pull-ups and he ran a 20-minute, three-mile run. Now he does 20 pull-ups and finishes the run in under 18 minutes.
“That is a perfect example of how he always wants to improve,” Gunnery Sgt. Brian Whalen said.
Oshkeshequoam has enrolled at Hawaii Pacific University and is about to complete his associate's degree.
Get the Story:American Indian charts path of success in Corps (Marine Corps News 6/21)
