CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — The rhythmic echoes of running cadence are a familiar sound on any military installation, but the usual "lo-right-lay-oh" was accompanied by screams last Friday when an entire battalion was run over by a 7-Ton truck after a road guard failed to assume his post.
The Marines of 9th Communications Battalion are known for their penchant to engage in "boots and utes" battalion runs every Friday morning, led by their Battalion Commander, Col. Randall "Randy" Walker. Normally, formations are preceded by a pair of "road guards" wearing reflective vests to prevent vehicles from entering the roadway as the Marines run by.
However, when Walker shouted for road guards to "post" on the intersection they were about to pass through, one of the designated road guards, Private First Class Daniel Goodman, couldn't hear him over the cadence call and remained in formation.