Local Youth Escorts WWII Veterans to Iwo Jima

Youth member of the Young Marines, a national youth organization, Cole Dorris, 18, of San Clemente, California, will escort WWII veterans to Guam and Iwo Jima for the annual Reunion of Honor. The island of Iwo Jima is only open one day each year for this special event.

Dorris is a member of the South Orange County Unit of the Young Marines under the command of Mary Cardenas. The unit meets at Camp Pendleton. He is a senior at San Clemente High School.

The year 2017 marks the 72nd anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima and the 73rd for Guam. Annually, American and Japanese veterans come together for remembrances of their fallen brothers and to recall the fierce battles that took place on the two islands during World War II.

Dorris will join Col William P. Davis USMC (Ret), national executive director and CEO of the Young Marines; the six regional winners of "Young Marine of the Year;" the two winners of the Jimmie Trimble Scholarship; adult volunteers and other dignitaries from Young Marines headquarters.

"Every person I've talked to who has been on this trip has given me only one descriptor of the trip - life changing," Dorris said. "I am beyond humbled and honored to be able to be in the company of the brave surviving men of the bloodiest battle of World War II. I look forward to being a representative and ambassador of the Young Marines and showing our everlasting gratitude and insurmountable moral debt to those who fought on the now sacred small island of Iwo Jima."

Dorris joined the Young Marines at age 11, and currently, he is in his sixth year in the program. Ever since he was eight years old, he has been involved in the Boy Scouts of America, first as a Cub Scout, then Boy Scout, or currently, as an Eagle Scout mentor. He enjoyed the various activities and principles adopted by the Boy Scouts, but he felt like it was missing something.

"When my friend joined the Young Marines and introduced me to the program, I found the special piece which I had been looking for - a sense of discipline," he said. "One of the most attractive features of the Young Marines is the commitment to developing leadership and discipline. One week later, I was in recruit training."

According to Dorris, the Young Marines was - and remains - a rock for both his conduct and the way he presents himself. The Young Marines kept him on a strong and healthy life path along with the blessings of a loving and supporting family.

A few of his proudest achievements include being named the Division 6 Young Marine of the Year, teaching a class as part of the Young Marines Advanced Leadership School and being promoted to Master Gunnery Sergeant.

Dorris is planning to go to college to major in economics and business administration with a minor in computer science.

"The Young Marines instilled in me a sense of leadership that is vital in pursuing a career in business administration," he said. "The program has given me the discipline to try hard in school. I also have developed the skills of discipline, leadership and teamwork which will help keep me focused and motivated."

Cole Dorris is the son of Kristyna and Patrick Dorris. He has two older brothers who are in the U.S. Navy.

About the Young Marines

The Young Marines is a national non-profit 501c(3) youth education and service program for boys and girls, age eight through the completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral and physical development of its members. The program focuses on teaching the values of leadership, teamwork and self-discipline, so its members can live and promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

Since the Young Marines' humble beginnings in 1959 with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has grown to 275 units with 9,200 youth and 2,760 adult volunteers in 40 states, the District of Columbia and Okinawa with affiliates in other countries.

For more information, visit the official website at: http://www.YoungMarines.com.