Mom’s Cookies Almost Took Out the Tail Rotor

I have a U.S. Mail story that is a bit unique.  I was assigned to HMX-1 which is the Marine Corps squadron that supports “Marine One” the helicopter that transports the President of the United States. 

My mother use to ship me cookies about once a month.  Since the hangar where I worked was a high security area you had to open up any box so the guards could inspect the contents before you could take it into the hangar.  read more

PFC GREENHATCH

Hello I'm YM/PFC GREENHATCH and I'm 10yr's old and I'm a SOUTHCOAST YOUNGMARINE out of MASS.I joined because I want to become an undercover police officer when I get out of HS, I'm a straight A and B student in school. I wear my uniform with pride and I am happy with the young man I've become. My mom has helped me all the way as a single mom she does all she can for my young sister and I. read more

Not a Swamp Rat

When I enlisted in the Corps pretty much everyone west of the Mississippi went to MCRD San Diego and everyone east went to MCRD Parris Island. I don't remember there being a choice. While I would love to perpetuate the myth that those of us who attended the prestigious west coast institution of higher learning wore sunglasses all day while tanning in our free time, this was not the case. In 1969 we had more sand than PI. In fact ALL sand. Sand to do pushups in , sand to get in our boots, pants , socks and everything else. Unfortunately we couldn't really see any beach, unless you consider a mop bucket with a dripping mop, the beach. As for a tan, I only remember my ears turning to bacon from marching on the tarmac, not a tree in sight. All you swamp rats can put the myth of us Hollywood Marines to rest, and those of us from Diego will surely rest easier after all that water from PI runs out of your ears and allows you to think more clearly. Semper Fi and we still love you even if the sweat and fleas did mess up your sleep patterns. read more

Marine Wife

Parris Island was my first home after I got married, I still remember the address of my first home, L 47 Ribault Village. I loved watching the recruits running down my street singing cadence, then go over to the parade deck and watch the graduations. I told my Marine that I really miss hearing cadence and watching recruits march. Unless you have been a Marine wife you can't understand the love that I have for the Corps, Marines are the top of the Military, first in and first to fight. OORAH! read more

Graduation Day

When I was in Boot Camp on day one the instructors advised us that if we were to ever get with in arms reach of one of the Drill Instructors they would feel like we were about to attack them and they would feel forced to defend themselfs, so it was well known that if you were moving past a DI you would give them plenty of room or suffer the consequences.  A day or two before graduation we were all in our Chucks so the recruits blended in rather well with the drill instructors.  I was told by one DI to run to the other side of the squad bay and retreive something.  So moving with some speed I ran through a group of recruits not realizing that there was a DI just on the other side of the group.  The DI must have "felt threatend" because he quickly reacted by extending his right hand, in a fist, to the right side of my face, knocking me on my hind quarters.  A few days later for graduation I was left with a slight, yet noticiable, bruise on the side of my face from "running into my DI's fist."  After graduation I greeted my parents who were excited to see me and we walked through and I introduced them to my DI's.  Right as I introduced my mother to the DI who I had had the run in with my mother noticed the bruise on my face and asked me what had happened right in front of him.  His eyes got a little wide with surprise and looked at me with a sly grin.  I quickly told my mother, "you know me, I am a clutz and ran into one of the racks."  My DI slightly relieved gave me an even bigger grin which was the closest to a smile that I had ever seen him give in my three month stay.   read more