Devil Pups complete 10 days training at Camp Pendleton

Staff Reports

On Aug. 11, 17 Northern Nevada teens ranging in age from 14 to 17, completed the 2007 Devil Pups encampment at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif.

After 10 days of rigorous training each of the Devil Pups who completed the course was presented with physical fitness achievement and citizenship awards, given during a Marine Corps style graduation and pass in review.

Taylor Woodman of Gardnerville was selected as an honor pup and received an award for his military bearing, ability to solve problems while motivating others, and his leadership abilities.

Rachel Jeauxdevine of Carson City was also an honor pup and received two awards, one for leadership and one for outstanding physical achievement.

Jeauxdevine scored 400 points of a possible 400 points on her final physical fitness test. She had the highest score of all the girls in the encampment and was nicknamed Wonder Woman by her instructors.

While at Camp Pendleton the Devil Pups learned to march, ran an obstacle course numerous times, went through rubber boat training in the Pacific Ocean, and participated in abandon ship drills by jumping from a three-story tower into a pool, plus undergoing many hours of other Marine style training.

This year's attendees were Owen Albert, Michael Courneya, Austin Hoyt, James Spencer and Taylor Woodman of Gardnerville, Raphael Alves, Tem Bonhoeffer and Nickoli Kallan of Minden, Luke Carter, Rachel Jeauxdevine, John Mooney and Tyler Roll of Carson City, Dylan Sanford of Tonopah, Geno Damico of Montgomery Pass, Ryan Callahan of Reno, Evyn Kintz, Vincent Stotts, and Charles Williams of Hawthorne, and Rebecca Hedelios of Fallon.

Dylan Sanford went home after four days of training with a bruised knee and Rebecca Hedelious went home after 8.5 days with a sprained ankle, but both said they would return.

The cost for each Devil Pup candidate to attend the annual encampment at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California is approximately $400. Numerous organizations, businesses and individuals contributed to this program.

Those contributing include Department of Nevada Marine Corps League, Battle Born and High Desert Detachments Marine Corps League, Northern Nevada Devil Dogs, retired Marines Chief Warrant Officer Dennis Hansberry, 1st Sgt. Al Fragione and 1st Sgt. Bob Roach; Lee and George Shaffer, Chip and Pam Kramer, Harry Hines, Brian and Deborah Southerland (Frog Daddy's), Mike Darnall, Tony Klein, Sonny Russell, Ben Benscoter, Jack McLeod, Naval Air Station Fallon Local Union 1119 Contract Employees, Tim and Debby Gallagher, Wal-Mart (Douglas County) and Anthony's Tree House.

Hansberry, retired Marine Sgt. Maj. Wayne Baker, Roach, Ben Benscoter, and Tony Klein served as screeners and testers.

Retired Marine Maj. George Class, Northern Nevada liaison officer for Devil Pups, offered his thanks to everyone who made the encampment possible.

"Congratulations to the young people who put forth the effort, sweat and courage that made them this year's Devil Pups," he said.