MANSFIELD, WA, USA U.S. Marines LCPL, F CO, 2D BN, 4TH MAR, 1-1 ID, 1ST MAR DIV, CAMP PENDLETON, CA AL ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ 08/17/2004
The indomitable will of a young boy who dreamed of becoming a Marine persevered. Every Halloween, Caleb Powers “dressed up like a soldier,” his mother found an Army cot at a yard sale when he was a child, and he slept on it every night. He knew all his life that being a Marine was what he wanted to do.
Friends of Caleb Powers lovingly portrayed him as a young man who cobbled together the shards of a tumultuous childhood and transformed them into the stuff of role models — offering hope to disadvantaged youth and children from broken homes.
Caleb overcame his own severe emotional problems as a boy to attain his dream of becoming a Marine. During a mentoring session Powers met Adm. William A. Owens, former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who saw the shy, withdrawn boy standing apart from his peers and chose him to be his “special friend.”
Powers flourished, and they credit Owens with drawing out the young boy, taking him on a special submarine tour and to the White House, among other high-profile excursions.
They spent many weekends together, forging a strong bond, which ultimately gave Power’s the strength and courage to become the Marine he had always dreamed he could be.
Powers was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division from Camp Pendleton.
You just don’t know who he could have been and how great his contributions would have been. He touched so many people in his short life that he’ll always be remembered.
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