A U.S. Marine, awaiting assignment in Holiday, wonders why someone would steal his dress blue military uniform

HOLIDAY — Since he enlisted in the U.S. Marines last year, Joseph Marshello has proudly worn his military uniform.

It took him a year of training to earn the crisp white hat and dark blue jacket with gold buttons.

But it took a thief only a few minutes to take it away.

Sometime Wednesday morning, someone stole the dress blue uniform and other clothing, altogether worth about $400, from Marshello's car as it was parked outside his mother's Sand Bay home.

Awaiting his next assignment to a military base, Marshello, 20, is not drawing a paycheck right now, making it difficult to replace the stolen items.

"I earned that uniform. If they want one," Marshello said, referring to the burglars, "they can man up themselves and go to a recruiter."

Marshello's mother, Darlene Marshello, 45, said she's in shock that someone would steal such a thing.

"A military uniform just doesn't seem like something you would want to take," she said. "The way times are now, you would think it would be more respected."

• • •

Marshello grew up in Boonton, N.J., with his parents and two siblings. He had dreams of serving his country by becoming a Marine.

"I'm the kind of person who wants to put a challenge in front of myself," he said. "I wanted to better myself."

So Marshello enlisted in January 2008. He went through a year of basic training at military bases in North Carolina and South Carolina, learning marine combat and communications training.

In May, the private first class radio operator moved to Florida to join his parents, who were lured south last year by sunshine and family.

While waiting to be placed at a military base in Florida, Marshello immediately started looking for jobs to temporarily tide him over — without any luck.

"I've applied to retail stores in the mall and restaurants," he said, "but I haven't found anything."

He also started taking classes at Pasco-Hernando Community College so he can someday become a history teacher.

• • •

Last weekend Marshello drove to a wedding in Lee, about an hour west of Jacksonville.

He drove back Tuesday evening, and got home at about 3 a.m. Tired from the drive, Marshello left his belongings in the trunk and went to bed.

He apparently left one of the doors of his 1991 Honda Accord unlocked.

By the time he discovered that the next day, someone had taken his belongings from the trunk.

Gone were his dress uniform, which he'd worn to the wedding, as well as a GPS system, a khaki-colored military shirt and another bag with gym clothes and sunglasses.

"I was like, 'Oh my God,'" he recalled. "My uniforms are gone."

Marshello called the Pasco County Sheriff's Office. A deputy was able to lift fingerprints from the car. Marshello wondered why his car radio, black military shoes, CDs and cash were left behind, but his uniforms were taken.

"It was labeled in military bags with my unit and rank," he said. "I was disappointed somebody would take that."

He said the military won't replace the uniform. Unless he can find it, he'll have to pay for a new one.

For now, Marshello is spending his days driving to pawn shops, hoping to find his uniform. He's also looking at the side of the road as he drives, wondering if someone threw out the uniform.

"I've made sacrifices since I was 18 to earn that uniform," he said. "And I did just that. I earned it."

Camille C. Spencer can be reached at cspencer@sptimes.com or (813) 909-4609.