Marine Corps Boot Camp Graduation

DUNCAN FALLS, Ohio – A Philo High School graduate just recently had a special graduation ceremony.

Hunter Angelo just completed his Marine Corps boot camp training and graduated Friday, September 21st. He walked into a room today filled with family and friends welcoming him home.

“It was rough really. It taught me a lot though. A bunch of life skills,” Angelo said. “It was hard, it was really hard. Physically it was terrible and mentally it was even harder.”

Angelo said it taught him to move fast and he likes to influence the younger generation to work towards their dreams and to not stop. His mother, Sarah Wetzel, said she got through it because of different Facebook groups explaining all that he went through and sending him letters almost every other day.

“It is a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. It’s been a very long 13 weeks. Stressful,” Wetzel said. “I’m excited, everybody is proud of him. Everybody has told me how proud they are of him. I get it at work. I get it walking down the street. I’m just super excited.”

Wetzel said the letters were meant to help keep him motivated and wanting to continue the process. Angelo will be home until October 8th, that’s when he leaves for North Carolina for Marine Corps combat training for 29 days and after that he will be sent to San Angelo, Texas for schooling.