This promotion is in honor of Nabors' years of contribution to the Marine Corps' image worldwide through the TV show, and will be held on the 43rd anniversary of the show's premiere. The public is invited to the event.

On Sept. 25, 1964, Gomer Pyle marched into America's living rooms and put a human — and often humorous — face on the United States Marine Corps. "Gomer Pyle, USMC" proved that the Corps did possess a sense of humor and could laugh at itself. The show aired five years in prime time, and since then has run in syndication.

Gomer's honesty, loyalty and devotion to duty, Corps and country remain as cornerstone qualities of our Corps today, according to a news release issued today by The Marine Forces Pacific public affairs office at Camp H. M. Smith. The uniforms, the people and some of the social situations have changed over the years, but the Gomer of yesterday is still relevant today, exhibiting hallmarks of honor, courage and commitment, the release said.