Semper Fidelis rings true for retired Marine

Semper fidelis -- "always faithful" -- is the motto of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Holding true to the motto, Chief Warrant Officer Dave Wyble Sr., USMC ret., is helping veterans with important issues after serving more than 20 years with the corps.

"That's my lifeline, the veterans," Wyble said. "That's my love, along with the Toys for Tots."

He said his work with veterans involves a lot of referrals and keeping people coordinated with needs and services. His hobby is tracing family lineages.

Wyble's career in the Marines began in 1969, when he enlisted at age 17. A native of Harrisburg, Penn., Wyble received his basic training at Parris Island, S.C., and was assigned to the 27th Marines in Kaneohe, Hawaii.

Transfers took him to Okinawa, the Republic of Vietnam and back to the United States. Wyble met and married his wife, Pat, while at Naval Disciplinary Command in Portsmouth, N.H.

Wyble received numerous awards in the Marine Corps, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Army and Navy Commendation Medal, Republic of Vietnam Service and Campaign medals and the Good Conduct with two stars; and several ribbons.

"After I retired in 1987, I had a job offer at the Department of Prisons as a correctional case worker at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center," Wyble said. "Carson City appealed to us so we decided to move here. We fell in love with the place, and it was in the geographical area we wanted."

Wyble has three sons, Brett, John and David Jr., all of whom enlisted in the Marines; one daughter, Jennifer; and four grandchildren.

Wyble is a member of the Silver State Detachment Marine Corps League; American Legion, Chapter No. 7 of Disabled American Veterans; Vietnam Veterans Association and Navy League of Carson City.

Last year, Wyble became area coordinator for the Toys for Tots Foundation for the Carson City, Douglas and Lyon counties area. Helping children is Wyble's second passion.

"While in the military, our kids grew up so quick, I didn't have that much time with them," he said. "This kind of gives me a second chance to be with younger children. It's great."

Toys for Tots began in 1947 as a Marine Corps function then went nationwide very rapidly.

"One thing I want to make clear, toys donated in Carson City stay in Carson City," Wyble said. "Those donated in Lyon or Douglas counties, stay there. We're not competing against others; we just want to make sure every child gets a toy, even if it's only one.

"Marines do this because this is our community, and we're concerned about our community. We want to give back something we couldn't do before. We gave to our nation; now we give to our community."