SILSBEE, Texas — On November 10, 1775,the Marine Corps came alive.
As Southeast Texas celebrates the 249th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, Silsbee High School graduate and private first class, Jaden Johnson, has accomplished something that only the top Marines can do.
While graduating Marine Corps boot camp is tough enough, Pfc. Johnson graduated recruit training at MCRD San Diego as honor graduate of India Company.
Those who brought him up weren't surprised the he graduated as the top 'devil dog'.
While at MCRD San Diego, Pfc. Johnson got his first taste of what the Marine Corps was all about.
"It's A pretty scary situation to be in. You don't really want to be there at first. You're completely out of your element," said Pfc. Johnson.
From the the baseball diamond to the depot, Jaden Johnson has excelled every step of the way.
"Last year he hit .380 and led our team in hits. There's a reason he's doing well in the military. His leadership skills in high school baseball transferred over to that. He did a really good job leading our team," said Johnson's former baseball coach, Michael Nelson.
After coaching Johnson at Silsbee High School, Nelson says that Jaden's dream to become a Marine was forged on the field.
"He led by example. He was the first one here, the last to leave," said Nelson.
After taking his last at bat, it didn't take long for Johnson's path to cross with Staff Sergeant Raymond Cleveland.
"He came to a table display, approached us and told us he wanted to become a marine," said Staff Sergeant Cleveland.
Staff Sergeant Cleveland said he is not surprised Johnson became the leader early on in his 13 weeks in boot camp, and kept the job through graduation.
"I feel like me being in that leadership position might have changed me even more than I could ever imagine," said Pfc. Johnson.
As the guide of his platoon, Johnson paid the price daily for his fellow recruits mistakes.
Johnson says that this molded him into the Marine that he knows he is destined to be.
"it was worth it in the long run," said Pfc. Johnson.
Graduating from India Company Platoon 3215 in late October, Johnson earned "The General Chesty Puller Honor Grad Award".
The award is meant for the best and brightest recruit out of hundreds of fellow graduates.
"I still don't even think, to this day, he actually understands the magnitude of what he accomplished," said Staff Sergeant Cleveland.
Johnson says that while he's honored to have earned so many accolades this early in his career, it's the road ahead that will define his dedication to a Marine's core values of honor, courage, and commitment.
"That award is just the start of my career. If I had to say one thing, I'd rather say I don't deserve the honor or I'd rather not have the honor. There's millions of men and women who have fought and died for our country, just for me to be able to go through boot camp and wear this uniform," said Pfc Johnson.
Private first class Johnson is currently going through Marine combat training at Camp Pendleton in California before heading to his job school.