My older brother, retired Navy 1st Class Petty Officer Gary B. Allred, died of liver cancer on Sept 11, 2012. His memorial service was held on Oct. 2nd, 2012, at the Barrancas National Cemetery, aboard Pensacola Naval Air Station, Pensacola, FL. You ask why I am submitting this story, because as his younger brother, I am retired Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant William A Allred. I served from March 1977 to May 1997. In this picture I am submitting, I had the distinct honor to carry my brother’s ashes to their final resting place. To my right is my brother’s wife, Donna Allred, and to my left is our sister, Connie (Allred) Maddux. The second picture is of some 24 members of the Patriot Guard, who gave their time and respect to honor my brother. We give honor to all of those who have gone before. Brother may you Rest In Peace.
Category: Marine Corps Stories
USMC Pumpkin
My husband carved this while our son was serving in Afghanistan last year.
Pumpkin
Here is my pumpkin . Semper Fi !!!
pumpkin
Here is a photo of a punkin I cut out last year.
pumpkin
Here is a photo of a punkin I cut out last year.
Halloween Art
My wife made this in honor of my unit last Halloween. I am Motor T, but they require us all to wear the patches at my unit. This is still pretty cool.
4th LSB, 3rd LSM Plt., 1st Beach and Terminal Operations Co. A (REIN) Concord, CA
Fond Memories of Bootcamp
OORAH! Sgt Grit. Seems we can't get enough when it comes to Marine Corps memories, fond or otherwise. One of our Marines stories jogged a memory of boot camp in 1974 at Camp Pendleton. We were given an evaluation sheet to fill out by our platoon commander SSgt Ransom to assist them on becoming better instructors. I wrote on my sheet that the drill instructors were well rounded, SSgt Tarver being mild mannared and SSgt. Viescas being hard core. Apparently SSgt Tarver took offense to that particular one and ordered 100 push up's to everybody. He said, "So I'm mild mannared am I?" I did fess up and apologize to my brothers, stating that I assumed they would be read while having a beer after we had been dismissed.
MIAs and POWs
MIAs and POWs are very important to me.
When the first MIA-POW bans came out, I went to get one and a woman asked me to get one with her brother on it, I did. His name is, Spec. 4 David Munoz, lost on 5-13-69. He has never been found or returned. I also got another, he is Lt Col Herbert Lunsford USAF. Lost on 7-26-67, I wear these at every Honor Guard Duty I am in and also all Marine Corps League functions, and American Legion functions to honor them and others, who are lost.
Honor Guard
Saturday's newspaper dated 22 Sept 2012, myself (second with rifle, M1 Garand) with others from the Honor Guard. The forth is Terry Reams also a Marine, Marine Corps League, Mt St. Helens D889 and American Legion Post 175, Castle Rock, WA. This was at the VFW post, Toutle, WA. My 75 birthday was on Wed this week.
The Gunny Gets a Medal
Gunnery Sergeant George Garden has turned 91. Sometimes he needs a little assistance going up and down steps and has a problem with verbal expression, but his mind is clear and his memory almost pristine.
He received his Baptism of Fire in the Pacific during World War II. He vividly remembers the days and nights in Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian, and Okinawa, and he can never forget the indescribable cold of the Chosin Reservoir Campaign during the Korean War.
He was my platoon Sergeant during those difficult days in Korea that have become Marine legend. Over the years the Gunny and I have kept in touch by phone. I have often wanted to travel to see him, but time and events did not allow for that.