On 11 May 2011 at 1705, Platoon 145 – MCRD San Diego – 1962, lost our Platoon Commander (Sr. Drill Instructor for you boots). Gunny Way was the youngest of three brothers, all Marines.
In Remembrance of
Gunnery Sergeant William Way
9 November 1926 — 11 May 2011
USMC 1944 — 1968
He served his country
Long and well
Through war and peacetime too
He trained young men to be Marines
His goals and purpose true
He suffered life with grit and will
In later years with pain
But he stood tall, a good Marine
Who would have been glad to serve again
Now he's at heavens door
Valhalla straight ahead
He's standing at the pearly gates
With others he had led
So let him in dear God
Give him a place that is serene
He's earned his place at your side
With all other good Marines
Archie Curtis
05/12/11
He was a Marine
He was a father
He was a brother
He was a husband
He was a veteran of three wars
He was a Drill Instructor and so much more.
Gunnery Sergeant Way was quite a man. The members of Platoon 145, MCRD San Diego remember him for the three months during the summer of 1962 when he dedicated his life to molding us into Marines, .
Then Staff Sergeant Way, Platoon Commander of Platoon 145, along with Sergeant Pacheco, Sergeant Clark and Sergeant Broadhead took a motley bunch of pimply faced kids and in three months time, turned us into men. Men with purpose. Men with pride. Men who had what it took to be United States Marines.
For three of the most important months of our young lives, he was our guiding light, our father, our mother and in complete control of our souls. We were sure we hated him more than any other individual on earth but we strived beyond our self-perceived abilities and achieved things we never thought possible, all in a seemingly impossible attempt to please him and the other Drill Instructors. He will be sorely missed.
Thank you Gunny Way. Thank you for the sweat. Thank you for the achy muscles. Thank you for complete exhaustion but most of all, thank you for the dedication it took to complete your mission.
We of Platoon 145 salute you. Until relieved from duty by God, the ultimate Officer of the Day, your new mission is to guard the gates of heaven.
Carry on Gunny.
Semper Fi