Sergeant Major Lee R. Wunder enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1986 and has had an extensive career spanning multiple deployments, including to Panama, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo. He has held various roles such as mortar man, machine gunner, and drill instructor. Wunder was promoted to Sergeant Major in 2010 and deployed with Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 in 2012. He has received several decorations including the Bronze Star and Meritorious Service Medal for his distinguished career of over 30 years in the Marine Corps.

1. Sergeant Major Lee R. Wunder
Sergeant Major Wunder enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in
November 1986 and graduated as meritorious Lance Corporal from recruit
training in January 1987.
After completion of MOS training from the School of Infantry and
Marine Security Forces School, Lance Corporal Wunder served as a
Security Guard at Marine Barracks Naval Weapons Station, Concord,
California until November 1988 when he was promoted to the rank of
Corporal and reported to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. He participated in
Operation Just Cause, Panama, Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm,
and Humanitarian Relief Operations in Bangladesh. During this tour of
duty, Cpl Wunder was assigned as a mortar man (0341), machine gunner
(0331), anti-tank assault man (0351), Maritime Interdiction Force
Assault Breaching Team Member, and Weapons Platoon Sergeant. In 1991,
Corporal Wunder was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Sergeant and
deployed to Naval Station Subic Bay, Philippines as part of a SPMAGTF
quick reaction force to the U.S. Embassy. In July 1993, he reported to
Drill Instructor School at MCRD, Parris Island and served as a Drill
Instructor in Mike Company, 3rd RTBN and Marine Corps Water Survival
Instructor until November 1995.
After Parris Island, he reported to 3rd Battalion 8th Marines and served
as Infantry Platoon Sergeant (0369) in India and Kilo Companies. He
was hand selected by the Battalion Commander to lead and train an
infantry squad to compete in the 2nd Marine Division Rifle Squad
Competition where they won first place. In August 1998 he was promoted
to the rank of Staff Sergeant and deployed to Albania as the first
unit to establish secure camps for Kosovo refugees fleeing from
Serbian atrocities. Shortly afterwards, Staff Sergeant Wunder’s unit
would lead the way into Kosovo to conduct security and humanitarian
relief operations signifying the beginnings of the Kosovo Campaign.
Upon returning by means of ship, his unit was redirected to the
country of Turkey to provide humanitarian relief as result of a
crippling earthquake disaster. In November 2000 Staff Sergeant Wunder
reported to Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines
and served as S-3 Assistant Operations Chief and Operations Chief. In
August 2002 he was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant, was
reassigned as Company Gunnery Sergeant in Alpha Company, 1st Battalion,
7th Marines, and deployed to Iraq as part of the initial invasion force
from Kuwait to Bagdad.

2. Upon redeployment, Gunnery Sergeant Wunder was transferred to Weapons
and Field Training Battalion, MCRD, Parris Island for duty and filled
various billets as Range SNCOIC, Range Company Operations Chief, and
Range Line Duty Officer. In March 2006, he was promoted to rank of
First Sergeant and reassigned to Second Marine Division, where he
served as Weapons Company First Sergeant, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines,
and deployed to Ar Ramadi in the Al Anbar Providence. After a short
return, he redeployed to Afghanistan in 2008 for combat operations in
the Helmand Providence. Upon return, First Sergeant Wunder received
orders to 1st Recruit Training Battalion, MCRD, Parris Island, South
Carolina for duty as a Company First Sergeant. He was promoted to the
rank of Sergeant Major in August 2010 and was reassigned to Marine
Wing Support Squadron 273 where he deployed to OEF 12.1. Upon the
unit’s return from deployment, MWSS 273 was recognized by the Marine
Corps Aviation Association for being the “Best Marine Wing Support
Squadron for 2013.”
Sergeant Major Wunder’s personal decorations include the Bronze Star,
Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
with combat distinguishing device/ second award, the Navy and Marine
Corps Achievement Medal with three gold stars, and the Combat Action
Ribbon with three gold stars.