“PFC Michael Giannattasio is exactly the kind of great American that the Marine Corps salutes. He was intelligent, in fact he scored higher on his GT test than I could have even after four years of college. He was in exceptional shape, earning the “Iron Man” award for his boot training at his time at Parris Island, South Carolina. He was aggressive and athletic. He participated in cross country and was an All-State rugby player in his senior year at high school; he’s the kind of guy we want. He volunteered for the most demanding training pipeline the Marine Corps offers, to become a Reconnaissance Marine. And his vision focused on being the best Reconnaissance Marine he could be. He received top marks in all training units. He continued to achieve the highest scores on physical tests as he did in boot camp—he qualified as an expert marksman and passed water survival course with advanced qualification in the pool. He passed the basic reconnaissance power course with ease. He was a novel Marine, a successful student, and a good friend to his fellow students in his fraternity class.

The weekend immediately following his death, we were attending a church service with several of his instructors and about forty of his fellow students. I was truly humbled and impressed at the effect that this entry level PFC, who not having even completed his MOS qualifications, had on such a large group of Marines. Several of his close friends spoke of his infectious positive attitude and the example that he set, his aggressiveness to tackle any challenge and his superior physical condition. They also spoke about what he did to inspire students with encouragement and support that he offered all who were around. He is a little older than the average student in class, but he led the class from the front. So, his fellow students logged him as role model, a natural leader of the class. He not only captured the hearts and minds of the students but also the instructors.

One instructor during our service remembered Mike specifically from his written after course fatigue, in which he called out several support issues and examples of friction points during the course that should be corrected, calling out instructors by name. This particular instructor’s reaction was a big smile. He smiled because he saw this Marine, a Marine of his junior, already had personal gumption and testicle fortitude to call out a senior Reconnaissance Marine during his fatigue. And that was unique. The instructor’s reaction to this brazen young Marine’s comments was that he was going to fit right in as a Reconnaissance Marine.

…I am sad, I am sad at the loss of a Marine, with more potential than I have seen perhaps my entire career. I am sad for Michael’s family who lost a son and a brother, a loss that I can certainly appreciate as a father, but I truly can’t fathom. I am sad for his brothers in the Basic Reconnaissance Course 5-17 that lost their role model and friend. But what I do know, however, is that Michael Giannattasio touched the hearts and minds of sixty-plus reconnaissance students, and I know he lives on in their hearts. He is still standing on top of the shelf as the first one up, encouraging his fellow students to go on. He is at the bottom of the pool, he’s the first to complete a crossover, he’s setting the example for you now. He’s also set a high bar in the hearts and mind of the instructors, and people like myself who have seen what a reconnaissance student is truly capable of, and he has raised their standards as well. I have never known a private first class, still in training, who has positively affected so many. Many people [will never] positively affect so many others in the course of their lifelong career.

Michael Giannattasio, I salute you.
Thank you for joining our ranks.

Thank you for raising the bar higher which makes us all better as we strive to meet your standards. Thank you for your friendship, we will miss you. Never above you, never below you, always beside you. Semper fidelis.”