ge ant ▁major ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 3 , ▁he ▁saw ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁combat ▁with ▁the ▁ 3 rd ▁Marine ▁Division ▁in ▁the ▁B oug ain ville ▁and ▁Gu am ▁campaign s . ▁ ▁On ▁his ▁return ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁States , ▁in ▁December ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁Best wick ▁served ▁as ▁ser ge ant ▁major ▁of ▁the ▁Mare ▁Island ▁( Cal iforn ia ) ▁Sh ip yard . ▁He ▁was ▁transferred ▁to ▁San ▁Francisco ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 5 , ▁and ▁completed ▁a ▁four - year ▁tour ▁of ▁duty ▁there ▁as ▁ser ge ant ▁major ▁of ▁the ▁Marine ▁Corps ▁Dep ot ▁of ▁Supp lies . ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 9 , ▁he ▁became ▁ser ge ant ▁major ▁of ▁the ▁Marine ▁Corps ▁Rec ruit ▁Dep ot ▁Par ris ▁Island . ▁ ▁During ▁the ▁Korean ▁War , ▁Best wick ▁joined ▁the ▁ 1 st ▁Marine ▁Division ▁in ▁Korea ▁in ▁October ▁ 1 9 5 2 ▁as ▁division ▁ser ge ant ▁major , ▁and ▁after ▁a ▁year ▁over se as ▁returned ▁to ▁the ▁States . ▁For ▁excellent ▁service ▁in ▁Korea ▁he ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁Navy ▁Comm end ation ▁Medal ▁with ▁Com bat ▁" V ". ▁In ▁ 1 9 5 4 , ▁he ▁began ▁a ▁two - year ▁assignment ▁as ▁ser ge ant ▁major , ▁Ins pect or ▁and ▁Inst ruct or ▁Staff , ▁ 1 st ▁Air ▁D elivery ▁Company , ▁San ▁Jose , ▁California . ▁ ▁Trans ferred ▁to ▁Head quarters ▁Marine ▁Corps , ▁Washington , ▁D