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Soldier manages time as full-time lawyer, participates in community activities

  • Published
  • By Courtesy Story
  • 203rd Public Affairs Detachment
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Lt. Col. Gary Port, judge advocate general for the 78th Training Division AT Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., is a third-generation lawyer who has been around the law since childhood.

"My grandfather was a corporate lawyer and my father was more of a general practice lawyer," said Port. "Growing up around the law system led me to choose the same path."

Port went to school working on his law degree after high school. He first attended New York University to obtain his bachelor's degree.

"I attended Brooklyn Law School in Brooklyn, N.Y., to finish my law degree," said Port. "I passed the BAR in July of 1986, signed the military contract on Dec. 23, 1986, and reported for duty to Fort Lee, Va., on Jan. 2, 1987."

Joining the military seemed like a good choice at the time and was a different field than the average lawyer would choose, according to Port.

Military law is different than any type of law seen on a regular basis.

"I decided to do something interesting and do something that would take me to interesting places," said Port.

He completed three years of active duty service at Fort Bliss, Texas. He then returned to Brooklyn to become an assistant district attorney in Brooklyn.

"During my time at the DA's office, we had an average case load of 300 cases at any given time and had to go to different precincts to interview suspects and witnesses," said Port. "I was supervisor of the complaint room for a while and supervised four DAs, and together we processed 60 to 70 cases a shift."

Port decided to leave the district attorney's office in 1993 after becoming overwhelmed with the amount of cases coming in. Port went to work for a small law firm in Long Island, N.Y., from 1994 to 2002.

"In 2002, I started my own practice and went into family law after fellow soldiers came to me with their divorce issues," said Port. "Being in uniform, I understood the military pension and how the divorces should be approached."

In 2004, Port received the Meritorious Service Medal. He spent a lot of time in uniform from 2002 to 2004 to earn this award, according to Port.

"The MSM is the award I am most proud of receiving, as I worked hard to earn it," said Port. "At that time, I was working for the 77th Regional Readiness Command at Fort Totten, N.Y., assisting all soldiers being mobilized through 77th RRC."

Port is always working on military and non-military cases. He always carries his military laptop with him to his office and his military and non-military phones are always on, Port said.

Port raised four children with his wife while juggling military and lawyer responsibilities. They are now at the age where they can take care of themselves, Port said.

"It is tough to raise a family when you are a lawyer and a reservist," said Port. "My wife, Yukiko Port, an employee of American Airlines, would constantly have to cater her schedule to my military training dates."

Port receives ample support from his family and has one child currently as an Army ROTC cadet.

Port found time to get involved with Boy Scouts as a scoutmaster while fulfilling his professional obligations. He got involved when his oldest son decided to join the Boy Scouts.

"I started as scoutmaster in 2004 and oversaw 17 Eagle Scouts," Port said. "Since I started, I have had one Scout that has taken what he learned and successfully got into the U.S. Military Academy."

Port is proud to see individuals he has mentored go on and do something good with their lives. Several of his Scouts have gone on to become Eagle Scouts.

"I would take Scouts out in the woods during the winter and teach them how to survive in the cold and set up tents," Port said. "It was gratifying when I would see the Scouts learning and having fun while practicing cold-weather survival skills."

Port is now nearing the end of his 28-year Army career and stated he will continue to focus on his law practice, so he may help people lead their own lives. He also plans to be there more for his family, so his children may succeed with their goals in life.