Lieutenant Colonel John B. Atkinson of the U.S. Marine Corps and BC '92, donated an American flag that had been flown in Iraq to Boston College. Commissioned in May of 1992, Atkinson said he donated the flag in an effort to establish a relationship between himself and the BC community.
While still a major, Atkinson served as a Marine Advisor to the 3rd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division in the Al Anbar Province. He was joined by 14 other Marine Advisors while living and working with the Iraqis.
"Our mission was to assist the Iraqis in taking the lead for counterinsurgency operations and render them an effective and professional force that was capable of defeating the insurgency, serving the people of Iraq, and defending their nation," Atkinson said. In addition to the flag donated, a BC football flag also flew at Atkinson's forward operating base. BC's football success this past fall led to a friendly rivalry between Atkinson and a fellow officer who was a fan of Virginia Tech.
"My commitment to BC was a source of fun for the Marines, and even some of the Iraqi's as we shared our cultures," Atkinson said.
Even though his post in Iraq has taken him far from Boston, Lt. Col. Atkinson has been able to follow the football successes and setbacks of the Eagles. Updates on the Internet proved to be an invaluable asset in helping Atkinson follow the football season.
Atkinson was able to attend the game against Miami in November.
He initially was unable to purchase tickets for just the Miami game, since they were being sold as part of a three- game package, but he was aided by Jamie DiLoreto, the associate athletics director for external operations for BC.
"Not only did DiLoreto and the athletics department help me with complimentary tickets, they provided me with a parking pass," said Atkinson who was able to enjoy the final home game at Alumni Stadium. "My family, friends, and I had a wonderful time watching BC beat Miami, tailgating, and trying to get a quiet crowd fired up,"Atkinson said.
The decision to donate a battle flag to BC was not motivated by a desire to obtain free football tickets or to win favor with the administration, Atkinson said.
He said he has come to respct the school, history, and mission of BC in a way that he did not when he was an undergraduate.
"I have grown to respect, appreciate, and cherish BC more and more as time has passed, my experiences have shaped and focused me and I have matured," Atkinson said. "My desire to donate the flag to BC was not so much the result of an existing connection between BC and me, it was more the result of my desire to reconnect with BC, and albeit in a small way, recognize BC's extraordinary integrity, example, reputation, and traditions in a manner that I failed to do as an undergraduate student.
"I guess one could say maturity, life's experiences, and frankly my service as a Marine have enabled me to more readily recognize the relationship and common values that define my upbringing, my faith, my education [at BC], and my service as a Marine," Atkinson said.
He said his experiences at BC have helped him in his career as a Marine officer, a profession, that has taken him all over the world.
In addition to his service in Iraq, Atkinson said that he has participated in a wide range of operations from non-combatant evacuations in West Africa, humanitarian assistance operations both at home and abroad, peace implementation operations in Bosnia, and provided forward presence as a part of a Marine expeditionary unit.
After Sept. 11, Atkinson focused his work on the Middle East, working in Afghanistan and participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.
His work in these different areas of operation and his more recent service in Iraq resulted in Atkinson's promotion to Lieutenant Colonel on Jan. 1, 2008.
He is now stationed at Camp Pendleton, in California, where he is the Plans Officer, 1st Marine Division. He will be taking command of an Assault Amphibian Battalion this summer.
Atkinson also has three children, Ashley, Laura, and Nathan, who accompanied him on his visit back to BC. "They truly were excited to see the campus and run on Alumni field - I hope that is ok - after all they had heard about BC through the years," Atkinson said.
The flag he donated will be put on display soon, DiLoreto said. Ideally, it will be located in a high-traffic area, although a particular spot has not yet been chosen.
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