Category: Marine Corps Stories

The Marine Brotherhood

Several months back I attended a gun show. As I made my way through the crowd to the front entry, I noticed a couple of young men in wheelchairs. I recognized them as Marines (not sure how that happens … as Marines, we just know what our own look like). Both were missing limbs … when I reached them, I put my hands on their shoulders, giving them the typical Marine greeting of "Semperfi". In unison, both responded with a spirited OOHRah! Immediately, another man stepped up, put his hands on these wounded Marines and greeted them in the same way. As I stood there, this scene was repeated over and over. I looked over the crowd and could see other Marines making a direct line to these men. I realized I was seeing the Marine Brotherhood in action. Every other branch of service talks about it …. as Marines, we live it! read more

A moment in a war zone and the danger of rice paddies

This is Doug Norman from New York City. We were on one of our perimeter patrols. Also known as a “skivvy run patrol”. Not a whole lot happened on these patrols. This is one of my favorite photos. Something about the American Marine and small Vietnamese girl in a war zone having a moment. I had been there awhile when this pic was taken. But on my first such patrol was all but boring. I had not been in country more than a week or so. They need a radio operator so the Comm Sgt picks me. A Sgt E-5 usually lead the patrol, so I am following him with my PRC-25 proudly on my back. Being my first time most likely making numerous radio checks to appear as if I know what I’m doing, which I didn’t. We come to an area where we have to walk the rice paddy dikes. They’re wet or damp, but we are making our way. Now when you see the villagers working the rice paddies the water comes up to about their knees, so a rational person would conclude that is the depth. Well, let me tell ya that aint so. Each field has a water reservoir in one corner that is 8-10 feet deep. I am walking the slippery dike and this dumb-asz FNG Okie slips off the dike. Yep into the 8-10 foot area. Now as I slip off I’m thinking I will hit bottom soon, but before I know it I’m under water with a rifle, radio, ammo etc… After I get past WTF, I think of what they will tell my Mother. Your son drowned in a rice paddy. My mother being kinda of no non-since would have thought something like how did my dumb-azs son die in 6 inches of water? With all the gear I was not able to get out on my own so I stick my arm straight up and the Sgt grabs me and pulls me out. In true Marine Corps Sgt form he looks me over quickly then asks if the radio is still working. I do my 47th radio check of the day and off we go.  read more

Herman Shirley

In June 2012 I was in Victoria Texas for the funeral of my former Mother in Law. I was driving a rental that got a a flat and I went to the local Discount Tire to have it fixed. While there I noticed an older gentleman with a 1st Marine Division cap on his head sitting in a chair waiting on his car. I was a former Marine myself with 30 years in the military. I wanted to thank him for his service as I could tell he was old enough to have served during a few wars. Little did I know that I was meeting a living legend. We talked for awhile and he told me some incredible stories. Eventually his car was ready and I asked him his name and he said it was Herman Shirley. I then asked him if I could take his photo. He said “sure” and proceeded to stand tall and proud and I took the photo with my cell phone. We then shook hands and he left. Still driving at age 92 he was very sharp, no loss of mental or motor skills. Attached is his story and the photo I took that day. Not knowing who he was I researched his name and found a lot on the internet about him. Wow! read more

Can’t Remember

I really appreciate your newsletter and I'm hoping it will help me out. I remember at least one or two Marines and usually more from every unit I served in except one.

I spent approximately six months with twenty other Marines going through Basic Electronics School and Radar Fundamentals at MCRD San Diego from early July of 1963 until about Christmas of 1963. I can't remember a single name. Well, that may not be entirely true. I think one of them was named Bishop but I'll be damned if I can remember which one or even if that's correct. We lived together, ate together, spent time together on weekends fishing and various other things. I even rode back from Illinois after Christmas leave with one of the guys and his wife and baby. We headed for San Diego in his 55 Chevy whose odometer didn't work and the speedometer gave up somewhere west of St. Louis. In Amarillo TX the fuel pump took a dump at 0300 and I split the seat out of my trousers someplace in Arizona but we drove straight through and made it back in time to report in before our leave was up. I was able to decipher the name of our instructor (Cpl. Robert Delikat) from his name tag in the class picture and I was able to find him but the names of my classmates eludes me like so many ghosts. The faces are as familiar as if it were yesterday but those names are all a complete blank. Maybe I should try hypnotism. read more

A Forgotten Marine

My name is Ronnie Hinojosa.  I was born on Feb/19/1963 in the city of Tijuana, Mexico.  Growing up without a father was very hard for me.  While my dad was serving in Vietnam, I was homeless, living in the streets of Nayarit Mexico not knowing who my dad was.  Life to me was very cruel.  I did have no life as a kid. I was abused by my mother cause I looked like my father.  My mother hated my father cause he lied to her he never told her that he was married. So I am the one who paid for the mistakes of my father.  I only saw my father one time in my life and that was when he came back from Vietnam.  I still remembered I was like 5 or 4 years old when he just drove by the house and he did not stop. Just passed by and flag his hand. This happened in Tijuana Mexico, 3 days later my mother sent me to Nayarit, Mexico to live with my grandmother.  After that I never heard about him. read more

Heroes Don’t Brag

The decision to give the OK to launch the operation which neutralized Bin Laden was worthy of praise, credit and pride for all Americans.

However, lost in the hoopla about this feat is the fact that primary credit for the terrorist’s demise goes to SEAL Team 6.  They got in there, putting their lives at risk and did the job they were asked to do.  None of them have come forward, spoken about their exploits, or written a book.  Heroes don’t brag. read more

Near My Desk

Kristy,

I rec'd the K-bar & display case and they're beautiful. Our top award winner is certainly going to appreciate receiving those as their 1st place award. This 'trophy' is the most coveted of any award. Our entrants talk constantly of the 'Marine Fighting Knife' that the Marine Corps League awards to the top place car. We again are so grateful to you and Sgt Grit for so graciously donating to our cause each year. read more

WWI Marine

A regular client of mine has these pictures up in his home, I inquired the nature of them because I recognized the EGA and he informed me that they are of his father "Ivan Evans" a World War I Marine. The one pic is when he first got in; the other is from some years after. You can see the change in him after the war, it really aged him. The third pic is just a partial from a four foot panorama of his entire unit. I'm a big history buff, especially when It comes to the Corps. Semper Fi, I hope all enjoy these. Bryan Butas Cpl 89-93