MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- Not many Marines get the opportunity to work in their hometown where there are no Marine bases nearby.
However, one Marine has been able to do just that.
"Marines in the band are from throughout the U.S.," said Sgt. Fancisco Gaxiola, the assistant enlisted conductor for the Parris Island Marine Band. "It's rare that a Marine plays in their hometown."
Sgt. Justin Hauser, a Marine musician in the Parris Island Marine Band, was able to work from his hometown on a recent band-recruiting trip to 1st Marine Corps District. The band even performed for a high school that is a rival with Hauser's former high school. Hauser attended South Colony Central High School in Albany, N.Y., and participated in football, wrestling and track.
When the bus pulled up to Amsterdam High School, the rival school, Hauser's mind was flooded with memories of high school wrestling tournaments.
"I remember how the school looked," said 29-year-old Hauser. "It was a little weird.
"It made me miss home and reminded me of high school," he added.
Hauser also began his musical career during these years. He wanted to ensure he could keep up his grade point average to be eligible to participate in sports throughout the year.
Therefore, he took a band class to help his GPA.
"My senior year I took a music class and started learning more about music and the different aspects of music. As I learned, all that I gained was a greater appreciation for music," Hauser said.
Though he began his musical career playing the trumpet, Hauser's teacher decided it would be better if he played the clarinet, he said.
After high school, Hauser attended State University of New York at Fredonia, where he majored in music education, until Sept. 11.
"It hit me hard, being from New York," he said. "I decided there was something more I could do."
A friend of Hauser's was joining the Corps to be in the band, and though Hauser did not want to join the band, he decided to talk to a recruiter.
Originally, he wanted to be an infantryman and considered artillery, but had second thoughts, he said. After talking with the recruiter, he decided the band was the best option for him.
When Andre Hauser found out his older brother had joined the Marine Corps, he was not sure what to think about it.
"At the time, I didn't approve of it because of the war," Andre said. "But, after he explained his reasons to me, I was in full support of his decision."
With his family's support, Hauser began his enlistment process. The first thing he had to do was audition for the band.
At first, the audition didn't seem like it was going to be that bad, Hauser said. He had played in competitions and had taken part in other auditions, but he was never nervous.
"This audition I was kind of nervous for, I had to pass it to get in," he said. "Otherwise, I was going to end up in artillery."
Fortunately, Hauser felt the audition was no harder than any of his previous auditions.
He attended recruit training, Marine Combat Training and The Armed Forces School of Music in Norfolk, Va., and was then stationed in Miramar, Calif.
In his five years at Miramar, Hauser deployed twice to Al Asad, Iraq. He served two six-month tours as part of the security team for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
Upon his return, Hauser permanently changed duty stations to MCRD Parris Island.
Since being stationed here, he has been traveling more and more across the East Coast. His most recent travel was what took him home to Albany.
Along with performing for his former rival high school, he was interviewed on live television by his hometown news station Fox 23 Albany. The band preformed for the morning news show, and Hauser received his 15 minutes of fame with a short introduction.
"I felt honored that I was in my home town and they mentioned me," Hauser said.
His friends and family were able to catch the news casting and said they were very proud of him and his role in the
Corps, Hauser said.