A New Year, A New Rank

Corporal Jed Soberal's Christmas vacation time was winding down.  He's due to return to duty in Jacksonville, North Carolina in a matter of days.  Fighting the clock, his family and the military pulled together to make this prestigious promotion take place here in the valley.

In the yard of a Clovis home, Jed Soberal took an oath to become a corporal of the U.S. Marine Corps.  Several of his relatives looked on with pride.

“It's neat to see him now because he doesn't feel like my kid brother anymore,” said Jake Soberal, Jed’s older brother.

Soberal is the third member of his family to hold the rank of Corporal.  He follows in the footsteps of his dad and grandfather..

“It really does mean a lot as with everything else I’ve done in the Marine Corps.  It's just a chip off the old block doing the same thing he did a long time ago and I really like that I can have the same experiences,” said Cpl. Jed Soberal.

Jed’s dad, Mario, was there to pin the rank on him.

“It's something to be really proud of,” said Mario Soberal.

Coordinating this effort wasn't easy.  Jed learned of his nomination just a couple of weeks ago.  Knowing he would be on holiday leave in Clovis with family, Jed made phone calls hoping to have the ceremony performed here.

“I found Colonel Wemett whose daughter was a bridesmaid in my sister's wedding.  He's real close to the family and found out he could do it,” said Cpl. Soberal.

Mario, who just happened to be visiting from Boston, says things couldn't have worked out more perfectly.

“The stars aligned.  Jupiter and Venus got together and were in the right place at the right time,” said Mario Soberal.

He may be fit with a new rank and added responsibilities, but Jed says he won't treat life any differently.

“I'm just going to go back to Jacksonville and keep doing my job,” said Cpl. Soberal.