Americans should never take Fourth of July for granted

Chuck Depreker is a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel who says Americans should never take the Fourth of July for granted.

“We should celebrate July Fourth with dignity and respect, never forgetting those who made our independence possible,” Depreker said during an interview at Florence Veterans Park. “We should also review why we celebrate the Fourth by looking at the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.”

Although he’s been retired for 20 years, the 67-year-old Depreker said he remains a Marine through and through. He said he joined the service because of the influence of an uncle who was like a father figure to him because Depreker’s father died when he was young. The uncle was a Marine during World War II who fought in the battle of Iwo Jima.

Depreker didn’t think he would make a career out of the Marine Corps. He figured he would serve four years and get out.

But four years turned into eight and eight into 12. He said he knew he was in for the long haul because he enjoyed doing what he was doing.

One of his most memorable assignments was the U.S. Military Assistance Command in Korea. Depreker was assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Korea, where his company helped train the Korean Marine Corps.

Another assignment that stands out was when he was commander of a Marine amphibious ready group aboard the USS Juneau. The Juneau was a landing pad helicopter ship that was on patrol in the Western Pacific for six months.

Depreker said the Marines taught him lifelong lessons.

“Marines are taught to be prepared, to assume responsibility to be accountable, to be organized, to think on your feet and to react in a positive way,” he said.

Marines also have to make decisions when decisions need to be made.

“This means that you are free to delegate if you are the officer in charge,” Depreker said, “but the bottom line is you are in charge and the buck stops with you.”

During his 20 years in the Marines, Depreker spent time in Hawaii, Okinawa, Korea, Georgia, Virginia and at Camp Pendleton in California.

Depreker and his wife, Sally, retired in Florence because they have a daughter and son-in-law who live here. They have a son who is serving in the Army in Iraq.

Depreker has been active in the VFW and the Julian D. Dusenbury Marine Corps League. He’s headed up the league’s Memorial Day celebration at Florence National Cemetery for the past two years.

He said he thinks Florence Veterans Park is one of the best things to ever happen in Florence. He wants to see a Marine Corps League monument raised there.

And, looking toward the future, he said he has concerns about this country’s ability to sustain its commitments throughout the world. He said those commitments are expanding.

“A lot of young military personnel are paying a high price to defend our freedom, while the rest of us spend time going to the mall,” he said. “Our military is doing a great job, but the question is, what is the long haul going to look like? Will we be be able to sustain these programs and our commitments as we go forward?”

Meanwhile, Depreker is the epitome of fitness. He plays racquetball regularly, lifts weights, walks and walks some more when he plays golf.

— Staff writer Dwight Dana can be reached at (843) 317-7259. Comment on this story at http://www.scnow.com.