Category: Marine Corps Stories

FLAG OF MY FATHER’S

                My Dad, Cpl. William M. Beatty USMC(1942-1945), received the Purple Heart for wounds received on Iwo Jima, March 7, 1945.   After the war he returned home, got married, and had 4 kids.  I was the oldest with 3 younger sisters.   He died of a heart attack after dinner Feb 13, 1953 age 33.  I was 4 and my youngest sister 2 months old.   He had a military funeral complete with 21 gun salute and is buried in the military section of Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise, Idaho.   I joined the Corps in 1967 and served in Vietnam and my son also served 4 years from 1987.   3 generations of Marines. read more

The New Corps

During the 60's we had the Marines and the Hollywood Marines. That still exists according to the new recruits I talk with. Looking at the story about Marine week in St. Louis, I was offended by the marines wearing the white trousers in the picture. Being stationed at 8th & I the enlisted marines were the only marines in the Corps allowed to wear the white trousers and then only during official ceremonies.  I wonder want the Corps will allow next since I see marines wearing ear rings on liberty.  I guess it's part of the new 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' direction of the Defense Department. read more

Chaplain Recognition

Sgt Grit,    Thanks again for everything you do for us Marines. We do appreciate it. Lately, there has been recognition of the Corpsmen which is really great because they provided us with the care and assistance we needed without hesitation.    Another recognition I think we should consider is the Chaplain Service.    Attached is an article taken from the Eastern Oklahoma Catholic Magazine July/August edition about a Chaplain Father you might want to include in one of your newsletters.    Thank you and Semper Fi  Robert(Bob) Gordon  USMC 1950-1953  Korean Service 1951 

Liberty Pass

Found an old Liberty Pass from PI plus ID Card, Drivers License and promotion to PFC. This stuff is OLD-OLD-OLD, but still in pretty good shape. Can't say that for my old body but who thought I would make it this far. I guess it was all that PT and good chow that did it.    Hope you have a great 4th of July!! Semper Fi    Robert (Bob) Gordon 

50 years later

Sgt. Grit,   WHAT AN HONOR….   I was looking for a patch (MACS-2) for my Marine Corps League jacket for an outfit that I served with from 59-61 at Kaneohe Bay and wasn’t having much luck.  I searched the internet and found out that the Squadron was at Cherry Pt. NC, another base I had been stationed at twice.  Thinking that they might know where I could purchase one, I wrote them.  Not only did they know where, but they sent me the patch and a challenge coin along with an invitation to attend their Change of Command Ceremony on 16 June, 2011.  This was something I could not resist.   I am honored and privileged to say not only did I attend, but was treated like a celebrity.  I was assigned an escort, 1st Lt. Chandler, for the entire day.  We toured  the MACS-2 site as well as the base itself, attended the ceremony and participated in the social event following.  This was all arranged by the Squadron Adjutant, 1st Lt.Keramidas.  My visit also including spending a short time with outgoing and incoming CO’s, Lt. Col. Chris Richie and Lt. Col Darry Grossnickle.   At the end of the day, I was privileged to meet with about 20 of my fellow “enlisted” in a conference room and just have a general bull session about life now and how it was 50 years ago.  To say that things have changed is a “sticker shock”.  However, one thing I did learn, is that the Marines of today are just as proud and just as dedicated as we were.  Sure, we old salts always believe we had it harder, but that doesn’t matter, because the one’s that came before me can say the same thing.      The one thing that I stressed to them which they will learn later on, no matter if you serve 4 or 30 years, ONCE A MARINE ALWAYS A MARINE…..   Pete Kristall USMC 1957-1961 Seminole, Florida

Sharp and Sober

Iwakuni, Japan in the mid 1950's, My good buddy Nick Dubovick and I returned to base after a pretty wild night on the town.  The next morning I found a crumpled piece of paper in my pocket, entirely written in Japanese.  Didn't ring any bells with me so I asked Nick if he had a clue.  He said that he found the same paper in his pocket so we showed them to our Japanese houseboy.  He said that they were from a tailor shop and that we had bought a couple of sport coats.   That evening we went back in to town to see exactly what the h*** we had bought.  They turned out to be bright red velvet coats with baby blue silk linings and our initials on the pocket in gold thread.  After we got over the shock we wondered if we would have the b***s to wear these in public.  We decided we would wear it, only if the other one wore his too. The enclosed picture was taken in the Miss Iwakuni Bar. Nick is the short one.  We never did remember having these jackets made and/or paying for them.  I think they cost us 3,000 Yen which was under $10 back then.   Nick is now serving in Post Everlasting and I often think of the years of absolutely crazy stuff that we did while in Japan.  I could write a book but only a few would believe it.   Semper Fi   Sid Gerling Sgt. of Marines