Local High School Grad, Marine Combat Veteran, Trains for Another Deployment

A graduate of San Ramon Valley High took part in live weapons training this week with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines in preparation for another deployment, and his mom in Danville recognized him in a Patch news report.

Lance Cpl. Jordon Dorrance, 21, was with his infantry squad Monday Jan. 21 during an exercise at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms.

His mom, Kris Dorrance of Danville, recognized Jordon in the Patch news report . She contacted Patch on Wednesday Jan. 23.

"Nothing better than waking up on a dreary day to a great article on our Magnificent Bastards," she wrote in an email. "Of course I can be biased, for one of those little bastards is my son. . . .

"In their world, they very rarely open up to anyone outside of it, and I sometimes feel that moms are shielded from it even more," she wrote. "But our eyes and ears are always open! I would love to hear from you!"

Jordon was modest when he met a reporter Monday during training, indicating he was part of a team and wanted no special recognition. His mother said in phone interviews Wednesday it was ok to publish a news report about Jordon and his battalion for Danville Patch.

"He's proud of being a Marine but he is part of a unit and he doesn't want any extra limelight," Kris Dorrance said in a phone interview. "They have already been through a lot."

About a dozen San Ramon Valley High graduates joined the military in 2010, the majority with the Marines, Kris Dorrance said. One of Jordon's classmates and friends, Lance Cpl. Joshua "Chachi" Corral, died in Afghanistan with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines during combat operations on Nov. 18, 2011.

"They are all like our kids, to me and my husband," Kris Dorrance said. "We feel that way about all of them."

Jordon grew up in Danville and he enlisted with the Marines in an early entry program before he graduated from San Ramon Valley High in 2010, his mom said. He turned 18 in August 2010 and his battalion arrived in Afghanistan on his 19th birthday in August 2011.

"He was there 7 months and returned in March 2012," Kris Dorrance said.

Jordon keeps photos of his girlfriend in his combat helmet and he follows the 49ers.

An estimated 500 members of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines from Camp Pendleton took part in live weapons training Monday at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center.

Fire support teams and infantry rolled out at dawn in amphibious personnel carriers toting rifles, ammunition, explosives, body armor, food, water and everything else they take into real combat.

The 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines last fought in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Their numbers include young men in their teens and multi-deployment veterans with more than 20 years in the Marines.

The 2nd Battalion is on several weeks training at the sprawling combat center, which covers more than 900 square miles of the Mojave Desert and most of the Bouillon Mountains, in San Bernardino County, about 500 miles southeast of Danville.

Other members of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines who spoke to Patch on Monday said they come from towns and cities in Los Angeles County, Ohio, Mississippi, Florida and West Virginia.

For more information about the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines visit www.1stmardiv.marines.mil.

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