Clapped For The Jarheads

Sgt Grit and Sgt Williams,

Please see the photos of the delivery of the items you donated to
the Baltimore Station on 12/19/2012. It was a huge success! The
items were met with smiling faces and plenty of "OOOHHH-RAHHH'S"
and then the grizzled ole Gunny (in the wheel-chair) quietly
said, "Marines take care of Marines."

There were 13 Marines present that night, although only seven of
them stayed for the group photo which we took just before I left.
I should have taken the photo before we started. In the photo at
far left are two of my co-workers (Kristen King – friend of the
military and Dave Mckim – Navy vet and president of the BGE
Veteran's Coalition) and then I am on the far right.

The ole Gunny volunteered to hold the Sgt Grit sign during the
photo and he said, "H-ll yeah, I am familiar with Sgt Grit's
newsletter." Thanks again for all you have done. You really made
a difference with those Marines. Sadly, I also contacted a few
other military-item businesses hoping that I could secure some
items to donate to the other 50 to 60 men of the other branches
of service who are residents of the station, but I never received
a reply so I had nothing to give to them.

The director the house, (Al Philips – an Air Force vet) called
everyone together and explained what I was doing, and to their
credit, the other vets all stayed around and clapped for the
Jarheads as they received their gifts from you!

P.S. The Gunny is a sniper and Viet Nam vet and is quite the
artist. He is currently working on a mural on one of the walls
of the residence main entrance. The mural is dedicated to all
branches of the service, but as you might have assumed it is
heavy on the Marine Corps courtesy of the Gunny's gifted hand.

He is an amputee and struggles to get himself in position to
first draw and then paint on the wall, which makes it all that
more impressive. The next time I visit I will send photos of the
mural.

Semper Fi Marines!

Cpl Mike Kunkel
0331
Lima 3/8, Weapons Plt
1981-1985