Category: Events and Memorials

Wake Island Hero

Sgt. Grit,

In June of 1956 I was fortunate to join the Avionic shop of MAG-35 MCAS Cherry Point, NC. The group consisted of two squadrons, VMR-153 and VMR-252 of R3Q-2 “flying boxcars.” My shop supervisor was then Capt. Robert O. Arthur of Wake Island VMF-211 fame. He was the spitting image of “Smiling Jack” the cartoon character with the pencil thin mustache. The Captain was a big man full of  good humor and a great C.O. He drove a small Renault which was way too small for his large frame. When he wasn’t flying he always joined us at the noon time card game. We all knew the Capt. had spent most of WWll in a Japanese prison camp after the capture of Wake Island but none of us knew of his heroism. He never bragged nor did he talk much about his prison camp experience. One day we were visited by the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Gen. Randolph McCall Pate. I was standing on top of an aircraft  in our hanger when the Commandant entered. I heard the Commandant yell “Bob” and the two walked swiftly toward each other and sharing greetings they embraced. I knew then there must be something special about our Capt. read more

WWII Marine Passes Away

Marines,

It is with great sadness that I write to inform you of the passing of another one of our brothers. Ray Vondracek was a young Corporal who found himself in the battles of Saipan, Okinawa, and Tinian and later made his way to Nagasaki, Japan after the bombing. He was a demolition man and saw a lot of combat in that theater, as did most. read more

USMC – 1953

Sgt. Grit,

I would like to submit two pictures, my Boot Camp picture at PI in 1953

Platoon #73. My wife still has a letter from me stating “I love you almost as much as I love the Marine Corp” and she still married me!

The 2nd picture is of me on the left and a fellow Marine Corps League member Joe Shea laying a Wreath at the Marine Corps Monument at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery on Memorial Day 2011. read more

Native New Yorker

Although I retired from the Army, I started my career in the Marines (more on that in future postings).  As a native New Yorker, retired soldier, and cousin of an NYPD officer and FDNY firefighter (both retired at this time), I was deeply moved by the last picture of the Camp Lejeune memorials in the June 9 newsletter.  I would like to take my own photograph of this, if the newspaper is still there.  If it is not, I will bring my copy of our local paper for the same day.  I won't leave it there, since I am keeping it as a reminder for myself.  read more

Memorial

I wanted to share with you something that my sister and I thought up about a year ago. Kym and I wanted to honor our fallen troops in some way and this is what we came up with. This memorial represents our fallen troops from Michigan, our home state. Each cross bears the rank, name, hometown and DOD of each soldier. We support our Troops in all that they do!!! Sad to say, one of our neighbors is now protesting, calling it a "graveyard". We will fight this. read more

NC Visit

Sgt Grit   A few weeks ago my wife and I vacationed at Emerald Isle, NC. While there I was given the opportunity to visit both Camp Lejeune and the Beirut/Vietnam Memorial in Jacksonville. I was stationed at Camp Lejeune back in the 70’s and this was the first time since I left to visit the base. I couldn’t believe how much it changed.   I’m attaching pictures of the Memorials so everyone can see what a beautiful job that was done for our Vet’s.    The Vietnam Memorial is made of Glass and the names are embossed on the glass.    As the sun shines through the glass it puts the names on the ground. It’s really something to see.    The Beirut Memorial is well made and also something to see. I was in the Marines in 1983 and was very interested as I knew some of the Marines on that wall.    There is also a steel beam from the World trade center located there. What made that really stand out was the news paper I saw posted on that steel beam. It’s also a must see. So here’s my pictures, enjoy…   Thanks to all who made those and all the Memorials possible.    Semper fi to all my Marine Brother’s and Sister’s out their past and present.    Michael P. England SSGT USMC 0369/8412/5811 1974-1985 G 2/3, I 3/3, B 1/2, G 2/2, C 1/1,  MP Co MCB Camp Lejeune,  RSS Gastonia, NC.  HQ 9th Mar. &  H&HS Station MCAS Cherry Point, NC.

Father & Son

Just a note of remembrance to all my Marine friends.  I joined the corps just after my 18th B-day.  My B-day is March 21st 1951, i joined March 25th 1969.  By Sept "69" I was with the 3rd Bn. 7th Mar. in Viet Nam.  On March 20th "70" the day before my 19th B-day I was wounded in a land mine explosion outside LZ Baldy.  I stayed in the Corps until Dec. 1978. read more