MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Gregory Steven Banks was going to college, partying and having the time of his life before it all took one big turn.
“I had no intentions of joining the Marine Corps and never thought about joining the military,” said the 25-year-old Washington D.C. native, who is now a corporal and aviation jet engine mechanic with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533.
Banks was majoring in psychology and criminal justice at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio before he came to the pivotal moment that would change his trajectory toward the Marine Corps.
He found out he was about to be a father ... Banks had a decision to make.
“I dropped out of college because I had a child and I needed money,” Banks said.
Not knowing what to do, Banks sought advice from his uncle, retired Sgt. Major William Small.
After thinking long and hard, and discussing all the benefits of joining the military with his uncle, Banks decided to join.
“I joined for my daughter Nevaeh,” said Banks, “so she could travel and get out of D.C., and see more of the world than I got to.”
He shipped out for boot camp October 2006.
He returned to Washington January 2007 as a proud Marine.
Like most new Marines, Banks expected his boot leave to be a time of happiness and joy spent with his closest family and friends, but his story took a tragic turn.
“My daughter died a couple days after I got home from boot camp,” Banks said. “I had to make a decision whether or not I wanted to continue on with the Marine Corps.”
Banks mourned the death of his 1-year-old daughter and hated himself for not being with her for the last three months of her life.
After thinking about the reason he joined the Corps in the first place, he decided he would continue his Marine Corps career for Neveah.
In July 2007, Banks arrived at his first duty station in Beaufort, S.C.
Since then he has been on two six-month tours to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, and has deployed to Singapore, Thailand, Korea, Malaysia, Misawa, and Wake Island.
“I love my job; it’s the best job in the Marine Corps,” said Banks. “When I was little, all I wanted was to fly jets. Well, I can’t fly them, so the next best thing is to work on them. At least I can be around them. Not many people can say they get to work on F/A- 18s every day.”
As an aviation jet engine mechanic, Banks is responsible for inspecting and maintaining F/A-18 fighter jets, and working on engines and other secondary power systems.
“I have a serious job that’s based on safety,” Banks said. “I have to make sure everyone’s out there doing the right thing while the jets are turning. I’m a plane captain. It’s my job to keep people safe and keep them away from danger areas. It’s demanding, but I launch aircraft and I love that!”
There is not a day that goes by when Banks does not think about the loss of his daughter or his family back home, but he knows he’s not alone.
“Five-thirty-three is a family,” said Banks. “We are a good tight-knit group. We’re the hardest working squadron out here, and I’m proud to be part of it.”