ABOARD USS BOXER -- As his tour as commanding officer of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 comes to a close, Lt. Col. Gregg A. Sturdevant reflected on his nearly two years with the "White Knights."

"I have been very fortunate over the last 22 months," he said. "I am just very fortunate to have the team of staff NCO's and officers, they are just a great bunch, I'm very impressed with all of them," attributing much of his success to his Marines.

When asked about specific Marines he answered, "There are a few that come to mind."

Marines like Staff Sgt. Timmy Davis, operations chief, HMM-165.

"He has done a great job in that shop," Sturdevant said. "He knows what needs to be done, and does it. He stepped in and took over, I always see him with mounds of paperwork on his desk."

Davis, 33, had much to say about his commanding officer.

"Working for him is an honor," the New Orleans native said. "Every Marine waits his entire career to find the unit and CO that best exemplify what he was taught in boot camp and this squadron under Lt. Col. Sturdevant is that place.

"He fosters loyalty," added Davis, "Not because he demands it, but because he understands Marines and the concerns that they have. I think that having floated early last year and being deployed for (Operation Iraqi Freedom) this year would be difficult on any unit, but because of his leadership and honesty about the situation, he made it easier for us to 'pick up our packs' and head right back out."

Another Marine whom Sturdevant mentioned was Master Sgt. Alfredo Hernandez, who came in and filled the role of acting squadron sergeant major and maintenance chief Ð "Two E-9 billets and he did it extremely well, coming from the '53' community."

"He made it an easy transition to cross over from the (CH-46) community," Hernandez said. "On our way out, when the operational tempo increased, the (commanding officer) was there to calm and reassure the Marines so that they could focus on the mission."

"The personality of 165 is the personality of the (commanding officer). He is very professional." Hernandez added.

For at least one of Sturdevant's Marines, this is not the first time the lieutenant colonel led him.

"I remember Gunny Mercadel, when he checked in, asking me if I remember him," Sturdevant said. "He reminded me that he was a (private first class) then."

"He was my original (Officer in Charge) and was a first lieutenant at the time," said Gunnery Sgt. Alvin Mercadel Jr., maintenance control chief, HMM-165.

At that time, both were part of the HMM-364 "Purple Foxes," Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

Mercadel was working as a CH-46 flight line mechanic and was impressed with leadership of the then-junior officer.

"The thing I have always noticed is his motivation," said the New Orleans native. "The colonel has always motivated himself and others to succeed no matter the odds. He encourages all those around him to achieve their goals through hard work and dedication. I've always admired his consistent, honest and fair treatment of all who are under his charge."

Working for Sturdevant for the second time, Mercadel appreciates the leadership example that the lieutenant colonel continues to emulate.

"As for the present, the colonel has set the bar at an amazing height for those to follow," said Mercadel. "He has turned one of the best CH-46E squadrons in the Marine Corps into the absolute best there is to offer in the CH-46E community. Many of the Marines that work for and with Sturdevant, share that respect and admiration."

"He is one of the CO's that you hate to see leave. He is very much about working hard and completing every mission," said Staff Sgt. David J. Clausen, flight line staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge, HMM-165.

"He is a realist and knows the hours the enlisted guys, 'being a prior enlisted Marine himself,' put in to keep the aircraft in an up status," the Lewiston, Ohio native said. "He definitely leads from the front, whether we are doing our ground training such as (physical fitness tests) where he always scores a 290 or above, or real life missions, such as 'Operation Anaconda,' or 'Task Force 20' where he was the Flight Leader. He always puts out 100 percent."

That 100 percent has been noticed up the chain, as well as down.

Sturdevant was awarded the Bronze Star on March 22, 2002 for "exceptionally meritorious achievement" while serving as the commanding officer of Task Force 165, in the Coalition Joint Task Force-Mountain at Bagram, Afghanistan, in direct support of Operation Anaconda, during Operation Enduring Freedom.

At that time he was the commanding officer of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) Aviation Combat Element - Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 (Rein).

He had 32 helicopters and jets and 500 Marines and Sailors serving under his command.

However, all he has to say is "I was at the right place at the right time."

Nearing the end of his command of the White Knights, Sturdevant was recently involved in one of the most highly-publicized and recognized missions of Operation Iraqi Freedom Ð the rescue of Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch.

"He has done some wonderful things while out here," said Col. Stuart L. Knoll, Marine Aircraft Group 16 commanding officer, referring to Operation Iraqi Freedom. "He was the flight lead for the insert of the (Army) Rangers and the (Navy) Seals into An Nasiriyah, to recover former POW Pfc. Jessica Lynch."

Sturdevant planned the Marines' role in the rescue, dubbed "Task Force 20," and flew one of the CH-46s.

"It was a once-in-a-lifetime mission," said Sturdevant.

At the time, the White Knights were on the USS Boxer in the Arabian Sea.

Sturdevant received a call the day before and went ashore to plan for the mission. With less than 24 hours to prepare for the covert and highly-dangerous mission, the team flew out the next night to a landing zone near Saddam Hospital in Nasiriyah.

"At that point in the war - just knowing that if something happened and one of us was captured, we could go and get them back - it was a great morale booster," he said to Jen Steele, a reporter for the San Diego Union Tribune.

The mission was a success. However, according to Sturdevant, that and many other missions would not even be possible for the Marines, if not for the support at home from family, friends and organizations like the Key Volunteer Network.

Sturdevant attributes the success of the Marines supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom to the success of the job the Key Volunteer Network is doing back home.

"They get the job done at home and allow the Marines to focus on their job," he said of the KVN. "They are like a force multiplier. When things are taken care of back home by the KVN, Marines do not have to leave the area to go back."

Troop welfare leads to mission accomplishment, according to Sturdevant.

"Marines can spend time focusing on what they are suppose to be doing, and not daydreaming about what is going on at home with the family," said Sturdevant. "With the MEU deployment, we had 522 Marines. Of that 522, 286 were married. This time is no different. We have 160 out here and 80 are married," said Sturdevant who will turn 46 at the end of May.

Having been such an integral part of MAG-16's involvement in the operations in Southwest Asia, many will note that when HMM-165 finally gets back to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, one piece will be missing - Sturdevant.

Monday he relinquished command of his White Knights to Lt. Col. Jon G. Doering. Immediately following the ceremony, he will be flown to the United States so that he can attend the National War College in Washington D.C.

"It is like unfinished business," he said referring to not going home with the Knights. "Almost like I completed 75 percent of the mission," said Sturdevant with a hint of disappointment in his voice.

However, he isn't leaving his Marines without benefit of his experience and knowledge, and the assurance that they were more than the nametapes and social security numbers.

"I have alpha rosters from the last two years - I will never forget these guys," said the Kansas City, Mo., native. "I think that I am pretty approachable and I hope that they all keep in touch. I hope that they will all send me e-mails to let me know about promotions, moves, who's having babies É I hope to see all of them when I get back to the fleet.

"Lt. Col. Sturdevant has had a enviable command," said Knoll. "Until you are tested in a combat environment, you really do not have the opportunity to truly shine. He not only had one combat opportunity but two.

"It is a testament to his leadership, that he can come into an environment like this and excel - not everyone does," Knoll added. "In 22 months, he has probably had as much combat experience as most Marine aviators get in a 30-year career."