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Christopher Leigh Commissions as US Marine Corps 2nd LT; Graduates from U. of IL

Sunday, May 27, 2018 - Posted 8:34:33 PM by Debbie Leigh

2nd LT Leigh (right) receives his commission from Colonel Hal Hoxie, USAF, retired, (left) and Captain Anthony Corapi, USN, (center).

On May 14, 2018, Christopher W. Leigh of Minonk, IL, was commissioned as a US Marine Corps 2ndLieutenant through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) Battalion at the University of Illinois, in Champaign, IL, two days after graduating from the University with a degree in Technical Systems Management.He was sworn into office by his uncle, Navy Veteran David Crow, and was pinned with his rank insignia by his parents, Bill and Debbie Leigh.After the ceremony, Leigh was honored to be saluted by his grandfather, WW II Army Air Force Veteran, Jim Leigh.

During his four years in the NROTC program, Leigh served as a platoon sergeant during New Student Orientation, Training Officer, and Battalion Sergeant Major. His first assignment will be 6 months of advanced training at The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico, VA.

Leigh was a 2014 graduate of Fieldcrest High School in Minonk, the son of Bill and Debbie Leigh of Minonk, the grandson of Jim and Betty of Sparland, IL and the late Clyde and Margaret Ackerman of Morton, IL.