Frankie Segarra

Segarra's parents moved from Puerto Rico and settled in New York City where Segarra was born and raised. After graduating from high school he joined the Marine Corps and received his basic training in Parris Island, South Carolina, and became the Platoon Honor Man.[1]

MGySgt Segarra, a veteran of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, is the first Hispanic and for that matter the first Puerto Rican Master Gunnery Sergeant acting as paraloft chief, Landing Support Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group in Camp Smedley D. Butler located in Okinawa, Japan.[2]

Master Gunnery Sergeant and the rank of Sergeant Major are the highest enlisted ranks in the Marine Corps; however, there are far fewer Master Gunnery Sergeants than Sergeants Major.

Other notable Hispanics with the pay grade of E-9 include:

• The Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps John L. Estrada, who on June 27, 2003 became the first Hispanic promoted to that rank, and
• MGySgt Abigail D. Olmos, who on August 13, 2004 became the first female Master Gunnery Sergeant in the history of the Marine Corps.
• Sergeant Major Jose Luis Santiago, who has the distinction of being the 2nd Battalion 9th Marines first Hispanic Sergeant Major and its first Sergeant Major since its reactivation on July 13, 2007.

During the observance of "Hispanic Heritage Month" at Camp Foster in Okinawa, Japan, MGySgt Segarra was quoted as saying "My role as the first Hispanic Marine to achieve the rank of master gunnery sergeant in my military occupational specialty shows that Hispanic Marines can achieve anything".[1]

•   Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
•   National Defense Service Medal
•   Iraq Campaign Medal
•   Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
•   Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon
•   Kuwait Liberation Medal

• List of Puerto Ricans
• List of Puerto Rican military personnel
• Hispanics in the United States Marine Corps

• ""Making A Difference In Our Communities And Our Nation" — Hispanic Heritage Month". Puerto Rico Herald. October 5, 2004. Archived from the original on 2004-11-28. Retrieved 2005-10-03.

• Fred Zimmerman (November 18, 2004). "Plane problems ground Talon Vision exercise, but training goes on". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2006-05-16.

• "Hispanic Heritage Month". Marine Corps News. October 1, 2004. Archived from the original on 2004-11-12. Retrieved 2006-05-16.