MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- A painter precisely splashes paint across a vast white canvass, creating images and evoking emotions from those who see his creation. Drill instructors, like painters, are artists except their canvass is the Marine recruit.
Often times, recruits come to the Corps with some artistic talents of their own. Pfc. James H. Noble, Platoon 3083, Company L, was such a recruit. Noble, prior to joining the Corps, was a longhaired rock band guitarist.
"The Nirvana version of David Bowie's Man Who Sold The World is my favorite song to play," said Noble. "It's one of the first songs I learned to play."
Noble's musical talents were inspired by his mother, Susan, who plays the piano and writes songs. Noble followed his mother's lead and started playing in a garage band in his hometown of Russelville, Ark.
Following in his mother's footsteps, Noble was always eager to express his artistic talents in many different ways. He is a versatile artist who also enjoys painting. One of his favorite hobbies is painting soldiers for his War Hammer board game.
When Noble was not strumming his guitar or painting, he was doing what most high school graduates do after graduating, looking for a job or planning to go to college. He spent many hours in his 1977 pickup truck going from place to place trying to figure out what he was going to do with his life.
"I had no focus," said Noble. "I was hopping around from job to job."
And then it happened. After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks it became quite clear to Noble what he wanted to do with his life.
"The Marine Corps gave me a focus," said the new Marine. "I wanted to defend my country."
The decision to become one of the "best" was an easy one for Nobel to make. However, the transformation from artist to Marine was very challenging for him.
"It was a big transformation for me," said Noble.
Noble, prior to boot camp, described himself as a laid-back kind of guy.
"At first, I was unmotivated," said Noble about his first couple of weeks aboard the depot.
Noble's drill instructors made sure that he did not remain unmotivated for long.
"My drill instructors taught me time management, physical discipline, focus and how to give my best at all times," said Noble. "They also taught me how to live my life with integrity."
Noble graduated today and became a member of a 226 year-old family. According to his drill instructor he will make a good addition to the family of warriors.
"He was an outstanding recruit," said Sgt. Richard N. Davis, drill instructor, Platoon 3083, Co. L. "He took the initiative to carry out many duties."
Those duties included serving as a fire team leader, scribe, duty hut recruit and artist recruit.
Now that Noble has completed recruit training, the only thing he wants to do is see the family and friends he has missed during his three-month stay aboard the depot.
"I'm going to give my grandmother a big hug," Noble said.
Perhaps Noble will inspire others not only with his artistic skills but his newly forged leadership skills as he heads to his duties as a machine gunner in the United States Marine Corps.