SV grad finishes Marine training
CRANBERRY TWP — When Tabitha Laine graduated from Marine Corps basic training at Parris Island, S.C., earlier this month, she had some special visitors.
One was her father, Bob Laine, who could not wait to see his daughter again after nearly three months of contact only by letter.
The other visitor was a Marine veteran, Bob Kunkle, who was compelled after meeting Tabitha only a few times to make the trip down south to see her make the transition from civilian to Marine.
“It's a special brotherhood that not many people understand unless you go through it,” Kunkle said. “That's why I wanted to welcome Tabitha into the fraternity … She is just an incredible young lady. It's an honor and privilege to do this for her.”
Tabitha Laine is a 2017 graduate of Seneca Valley Senior High School. She was supposed to leave for basic training shortly after Seneca Valley's graduation on May 26, but after a request from her recruiter to leave earlier, she was given permission to leave high school early. She shipped out for basic training on May 16.
Mark Korcinsky, principal at the senior high school, said it's common to have students leave early for the military at Seneca Valley, with one or two students doing it each year.
Ready to join
Tabitha Laine said since she joined JROTC in ninth grade, she had her mind set on joining the military. It didn't matter what branch.
Bob Laine said he wasn't surprised at all when Tabitha told him she wanted to go into the Marines. Their family has a long history of military service, he said.
She's always taken on a lot of responsibility and handled it well, Bob Laine said, between working a part-time job and being in marching band, chorus and JROTC.
“She's the kind of kid that when she says she's going to do something, she does it,” Bob Laine said. “She's someone I couldn't be prouder of.”
Vietnam vet
It was a class at Seneca Valley that brought Kunkle and Tabitha together. Kunkle, who lives in Canonsburg, met Tabitha Laine through Jim Lucot, a Seneca Valley history teacher.
Kunkle, who was in the Marines from August 1969 to August 1971, was in Lucot's class for a presentation on the Vietnam War with friend and fellow veteran Ron Cepek, of Zelienople.
“Tabitha came up to me afterward and said 'Sgt. Kunkle, I'm going to the Marine Corps,'” Kunkle said. “We kept tabs with each other.”
Although they'd only met about three or four times, Kunkle said he was impressed with Tabitha. Becoming a Marine is a unique experience that bonds people across generations.
“I've been through a lot in my life and probably one of the proudest moments and memories that I'll never forget is the day I graduated boot camp at Parris Island, and I think most Marines will tell you that,” Kunkle said.
Squad leader
Tabitha was in one of two female platoons and five male platoons that graduated on Aug. 11. She was squad leader for her platoon.
Bob Laine said the family had special shirts made for the weekend. “I wrote her a letter every single day while she was in boot camp,” he said.
Basic training was fun, Tabitha Laine said, and she wishes she could do it again. She came home for 10 days after basic before leaving again on Monday for combat training in Camp Geiger, N.C., for a month. After that she will begin school for her job in motor transport in the Marines.
“It felt so good to finally see my family again,” she said, of graduating from basic training. “And to have (Kunkle) there, it made my heart so happy … It was so weird to have him thank me for my service when it should really be the other way around.”
