A Marine Corps veteran who led the push for construction of a veterans memorial in Niagara Falls recently accepted a plea agreement for illegally wearing medals he had not earned, including one awarded to those who served in combat in the Vietnam War. read more

THANKSGIVING SITTING IN AN AIRPORT

Last week we lost a brother.  Cpl Thurman was assigned to a new post after a long battle with leukemia.  Cpl Thurman was assigned to HMX-1 Security and was retired from the Corps after spending months in Walter Reed receiving Kemo therapy.  Cpl Thurman went back to Tuscan Arizona to receive more treatment and to be with his family.  Last Tuesday I received word that he had passed.  I caught a flight and met up with another Marine from HMX-1, a
fellow Sgt and a good friend.  Also with us were the Chaplin and Medical Officer from HMX-1.   Last Wednesday the day before Thanksgiving we all spent time with his family, squaring away his dress blues and talking about how much he loved the Corps.  We said goodbye that night in the funeral home and went back to our hotel to pack.  We all spent the next day in the airport, waiting for our flights back to D.C..  I got back to D.C. around 1900, my girlfriend picked me up and we drove home.  This year I really
didn't think I would be spending thanksgiving sitting in an airport.  I didn't think that I would have to help with the burial of a fellow Marine and brother.  But we didn't complain, we were there for Cpl Thurman, his family and each other.  That is why we are Marines, and that is how I know Cpl Thurman is now standing post at Heaven's gates. Semper Fi
Sgt MPA read more

Father of Fallen Marine Promoted to Commander

DRUMMED OUT–YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!

The letter from Chuck Sarges witnessing “Drumming Outs” from the 2nd Service Rgmt. at Camp Lejuene brought vivid memories back to me.  The sight of a downcast sh*tbird followed by a solitary Drummer and MP  marching out of  1 MarDiv, Camp Pendleton by the main road past Tent Camp II was not an uncommon sight in 1955.  A sobering reminder to those of young Marines ( like me) in the Replacement Drafts waiting for our ships to come in. (Rumor also had it that upon physically leaving Pendleton and crossing the boundary into Oceanside, they were immediately picked up for “Vagrancy” by Oceanside PD–in those days, I believe it!) read more

BOB HOPE

I'm glad to hear about the monuments and tributes to Bob Hope.  To me, he's a bigger hero than John Wayne. I saw Bob in DaNang on his Christmas show tour, in 1969. Too bad I was way up on the hill overlooking the show, but I still have the pictures that I took.
Wallace Klekar, Sgt. USMC 1968-1972 read more

On War: Kevin Frayer in Afghanistan

ONLY ONE SPEED IN REVERSE

My name is John Gerber a USMC 1970 Viet-Nam vet assigned to 1st FSR/FLC  Rat. Co . Along with our regular duties and the shortage of grunts we at FLC did all our security, patrols and shotgun duties every day. It was on one summer day when I was assigned to ride shotgun with three other Marines, to deliver supplies to an orphanage somewhere in Happy Valley that we were almost all killed. As we past the last artillery outpost I  wondered why we were sent so far out without an escort or a radio, I guessed  this was a secured  area. Miles into the ride as we came up a sharp turn heading into tree line, we ran right into  approx. 25 to 30 vc, they were sitting, laying down and standing ,taking a break. WoW, our truck driver, whom I don't know, stopped immediately and scanned the situation. We were just as surprised to see them as they were to see us, I was locked and loaded and realized we were out numbered and this was the end. As I took aim at the one VC holding the RPG, our driver, a corporal told us to “cool it don't fire” thinking he would put his truck in reverse so we could shoot our way out, he did the unexpected and drove right into them. To my surprise they  made a hole and let us pass without firing a shot. Our driver told us that he only had one speed in reverse, “slow” but forward he had  many speeds, giving us a fighting chance.  In all these years I often thought of that lucky day and why we were not all killed, but the thing that bothers me the most is that we didn't write up this  cool headed ,brave young Marine, he saved our lives and should have been given a medal, truly a Marine Hero!!!! He was assigned to seventh motor transport battalion FLC, Red Beach and he used a 50 cal. shell for a shifter knob. So if your reading this corporal  I thank you.
Sgt. John Gerber USMC 1969-75,SEMPER FI read more

Taps –outstanding