8-year-old passes away a day after becoming Honorary Marine
Jeff Schogol, Marine Corps Times 7:16 p.m. EDT July 31, 2016
Terminally ill 8-year-old made Honorary Marine at Pendleton ceremony
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Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, on behalf of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, presented the title of Honorary Marine to Wyatt Seth Gillette in a ceremony at the School of Infantry-West Parade Deck, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Saturday, July 30, 2016. Wyatt was born on Aug. 15, 2008, and diagnosed with Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome Type 1 (Trex 1 Mutation) when he was 4. Wyatt's father, Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Gillette, is currently a drill instructor with 2nd Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, aboard the depot. Wyatt is only the 96th recipient of the award since the program's inception in 1992. Cpl. Angelica Annastas/Marine Corps
Wyatt Gillette's Honorary Marine Ceremony
A day after becoming an Honorary Marine, 8-year-old Wyatt Gillette passed away Sunday morning.
Gillette received his Eagle, Globe and Anchor as well as a smart salute Saturday at Camp Pendleton, California. Both Gillette’s father and mother were with him at the School of Infantry-West Parade Deck.
His father, Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Gillette, confirmed Sunday that the boy had died. The elder Gillette is a drill instructor with 2nd Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.
