Honoring Our Heroes

Sergeant Robert Clifton Fell: Age 48

Sergeant (Sgt) Robert Clifton Fell served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps. His Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) was Helicopter Power Plant Mechanic. He received the following medals, awards, decorations and citations: Rifle Expert, Good Conduct Medal, NATO Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one star and Letter of Commendation and Meritorious Mast which is given for personalperformance that is considered noteworthy or

commendable beyond the usual requirements of duty.

Sgt Robert Clifton Fell was born September 4, 1975 in Rocky Mt., North Carolina, to his parents George and Sandy Fell. He was reared there for nine years and then in Fraser, CO, which is best known for thrilled filled sledding and snow-tubing at the Fraser Snow Trail and Colorado Adventure Park. He enjoyed those sports as well as skiing at Winter Park Ski Area and playing basketball. He signed up in the delayed entry program early in his senior year and graduated from Middle Park High School in May 1994. His family has a long history of serving in the military with an uncle and a cousin serving in the US Navy, an uncle serving and retiring in the US Airforce, and one cousin serving in the US Army. His father is a decorated Marine veteran who served in Vietnam.

Sgt Fell enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in Denver, CO, and on September 11, 1994, he stood on those yellow footprints at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, CA. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, Platoon 1050 where he completed 13 weeks of the legendary Marine Corps Boot Camp. There he experienced the physical, mental and moral toughness which are prerequisites to fight among the Marine Corps ranks. He and the other recruits acquired the knowledge, discipline, teamwork and fitness level required of a Marine through physical training, classroom instruction and development of combat skills. The difficulties that this process presents to every recruit are as deliberate as they are legendary, as physical, mental and moral toughness are Pre-requisites. It is not enough to simply endure. The Marine must prevail.

After graduating from Boot Camp on January 6, 1995, Pvt. Fell was assigned to the 2nd Battalion Hotel Company, 2nd Platoon at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA, for combat training. It was there he was meritoriously promoted to Private First Class (PFC) on February 2nd 1995 and learned that his MOS would be 6124, helicopter power plants mechanic. After graduating from combat training at the end of February 1995, he was transferred to the Naval Air Technical Training Center, Millington, TN where he completed his Aviation Machinist's Mate Course. Next, he was transferred to the Naval Air Maintenance Training Group in Mayport, FL, where he trained in maintenance of the T-700-GE-401C, which is the powerplant for the AH-1W Super Cobra engine. There he was awarded a letter of commendation for achieving the highest GPA in his class. He then trained at Marine Base Camp, in the powerplant maintenance of the Pratt & WhitneyT-400 turbo twin pack which the engine for the UH/IV Huey. After graduating in August of 1995, he was stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., with MALS-26 (Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron). During his time there, he was deployed twice on U.S. Navy ships to the Mediterranean Sea. He served with the 24th MEU on the USS Saipan LHA 2 which is a Tarawa class amphibious assault ship from June 1996 to December 1996. During that deployment he also served as an aerial observer on the UH-1N Huey and was promoted to Corporal. While docked in Haifa, Israel, Corporal Fell was victorious in his boxing match during the Battalion Landing Team 2/8 "Smoker" on November 24th. On November 1st 1997, he was promoted to Sergeant. He served from January 1998 until June 1998 with the 26th MEU on the USS LHD-1, a United States Navy multipurpose amphibious assault ship and the lead ship of her class at the time. During this deployment, the 26th MEU served as the Headquarters for the Strategic Reserve Force (SRF) during Exercise Dynamic Response in Bosnia. The SRF was a multinational force made up of forces from the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Romania, Poland and the United States. He also served on the USS Trenton LPD-14 during this deployment in the Black Sea. Sgt. Fell completed his military service September 11,1998.

After his military service, Sgt Fell used the G.I. Bill and received a Certificate of International Business and a Bachelors of Science Degree in Business Economics from the University of

Arizona in 2003. His employment after his military service began in leadership working as group manager with Jeld-Wen Windows & Doors in Vista, CA, for several years. He then moved to Georgia to build a house with his father for the next year. From that experience, he chose to work in the construction industry. He was employed by Ryland Homes in Ft. Myers, Florida, as a construction superintendent. Construction was booming during this time, and so were the subprime mortgages. Unwarranted risk-taking and the greed of the financial institutions ultimately led to the housing bubble burst and the Great Recession. He was laid off in October of 2007 but was able to adapt and find work at a small SERVPRO franchise, a cleanup and restoration service. He operated as the estimator and organized the crews to serve homeowners in need. During that time, he led a crew to Birmingham, Alabama in 2011 to assist in cleanup efforts after an EF4 tornado caused massive damage to the western and northern parts of Birmingham. In 2012, he was hired as a assistant manager at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama in Montgomery, AL. From 2012 to 2019, he led teams of 50–120 team members and management in the quality production of Hyundai vehicles. In 2019, he was selected for promotion to manager and was moved to the paint shop. There he led 134 team members and five members of manage-ment to produce 500 quality cars per shift.

In 2018, he and his wife had their youngest daughter Isabella who was born with Down Syndrome. This motivated Robert to learn about the fundamental financial management and investing principals so that he could provide for her future. He led a Financial Peace University class at his church and was excited to lead people to a strong financial foundation. This led him to search for an opportunity to do this as a career. He joined Edward Jones in January 2024 and passed his Securities Industry Essentials exam, Series 7. Series 66, and Alabama Insurance exam. Edward Jones bestowed the title of Financial Advisor upon Robert where he builds relationships with his clients and leads them to a strong financial foundation based upon their needs. He can be reached at 334-271-9573 if anyone is interested in a no-obligation conversation.

Sgt. Fell and his wife, Cecilia, have been married nine years, and they have three daughters. His elderly parents live next door and make it their job to spoil his children. They are members of the First Baptist Church of Prattville, Down Syndrome Alabama and Townsend Detachment 920 Marine Corps League. He enjoys spending time in his barn and raising chickens, horses and vegetables on the 10 acres of his home.

Sgt Fell's conclusions about his military service in the U.S. Marine Corps are: "It provided me with a foundation outside of my parents raising me and allowed me to mature. It exposed me to other cultures, not just overseas, but within these great United States. It broadened my horizons more than any college classroom could. I knew if I set my mind to it, then I could do it, and that is what I have done." He would like people to remember him as follower of Christ, a solid friend, a good father, husband and fun to be around.