Category: Marine Families

My Grandmother’s a BAM and Proud of It

Sgt. Grit,

My Grandmother, SGT. Patricia Shay, served in WWII helping to process the Marines coming back to Alameda, CA from the Pacific Theatre. I remember as a young boy seeing her Marine Corps pictures displayed proudly showing her in uniform. This ended up being my introduction to the Marine Corps. She grilled me with my studies so that I could graduate and fufill my commitment to enlist and become a Marine. She attended my graduation from MCRD San Diego (Hollywood), and has been there when I needed her to be. There have been two outstanding gifts that were presented to my Granny, first was the Flag from Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan flown on DEC. 7th 2011 sent by my Brother-In-Law, Maj. Kevin Bicking, (A Mustang, from SGT. through OCS and made it to Major in just over 20, Currently Retired) and second, the Award of the Two Medals… The American Campaign and WWII Victory medals that she had not received when she was in the service. These two small acts have moved my family and my Grandmother specifically with comraderie that is the Marine Corps. Semper Fidelis to all of our Veterans… old and new, and by the way Granny is 93 and will be 94 this year and is still as tough as nails. read more

The Title

  I am so proud of my father   I am the son of a Marine       He was no ordinary man   He would enlist at seventeen       His father gave in saying, “they won’t take him.”   To Parris Island he went where the pain would begin.       Marine Corps DI’s are the heart of the Corps   Turning men from nothing into so much more!       My dad would remind me over the years   This transformation came from blood, sweat, and tears.       So off to a foreign land thousand miles away   He would brave sub-zero weather and make the communist pay.       These 1st Division Marines would fight insurmountable odds,   Delivering defeat to the Chinese with the protection from God.       As I sat on my footlocker in a squad bay at P.I.   I now understood why Marines are so willing to die.       Marines are the protection, created by our Lord   To secure American safety she could never afford.       I love my country so proud to be a Marine   No greater honor I accomplished my dream.       February 1st can’t come too fast   As my own son’s dream will arrive at last.       Casey will carry on the family tradition   Serving our country with no guarantees or conditions.       He will be a U.S. Marine, the world’s greatest warrior   Committing his life just like those before him.       One fact is certain before our lives are final   As Marines there is no doubt, we earned the title!       Written by Casey Shattuck 1/2/2013   USMC 1979-1985

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." read more