Category: Proud to be a Marine

TBS 4-67

On October 10, 1966, over 700 Officer Candidates stepped off the buses at Quantico, VA into the welcoming arms of the equivalent of Boot Camp Drill Instructors to begin the 42nd Officer Candidate's Course. Ten weeks later, approximately 500 were commissioned 2nd Lieutenants. Because of the "needs of the Marine Corps", 144 of those Lieutenants were sent directly to Pensacola for flight training vice The Basic School where all Lieutenants are supposed to be trained to be infantry Platoon commanders. The remainder were divided into the three companies, Golf, Hotel and India of The Basic School Class of 4-67. read more

Trigger Puller

I was in Washington D.C. the weekend of August 3, 2013, for my niece's wedding. I went to the various memorials with my son and his wife. At the Iwo Jima memorial we were there at the right time. A bunch of Marines of all ranks and grades showed up to promote a Staff Sergeant to Gunny. I introduced myself as a 1966 Vietnam, E5, 0311 Marine. They called me a "Trigger Puller". I liked that. They then requested that I participate in the promotion ceremony. What an honor. Once a Marine, Always a Marine. read more

I Was Honored

I recently joined the Patriot Guard Riders. Had a mission in Tulsa, OK.  Flag Line and Escort to Memorial Park, from a church. A deceased Marine of the Korean War Era. I understand it was unusual, that the family asked the Guard to transport the ashes to cemetery. For the service, a Prior Service Marine and two other riders carried the urn into the chapel and we escorted. After service, same guys carried it out and we escorted. Being a Prior Service Marine myself, I was honored, to be asked to escort the urn in a PGR's truck, with a daughter and great-grandson, who held folded flag. read more

Camp Hauge

In response to an article in Aug. 7th, 2013 newsletter from Gy/Sgt. F.L. Rousseau… USMC… My name is Howard W. Kennedy and I served as a Cannoncocker on the 155 howitzer with Kilo Btry, 4th Batt., 12th Marines 3rd Mar. Div. in 1957/58 at Camp Hauge. I am attaching a photo of the front gate and the correct spelling of the name Hauge. To my understanding the name came from Medal of Honor recipient Cpl. Louis James Hauge who was KIA in May 1945 during the battle for Okinawa. After I left Camp Hauge it was used as a staging area for Marines going to Vietnam. Once it was closed, I have no idea what became of the base or if it's under a different name now. I would welcome any information someone might have about the old base and what's there now, and if anyone remembers Gy/Sgt Richard R. "Big Red" Ebert from Headquarters Battalion, 12th Marines… read more

Fred Killebrew

By Gary Wilson, Ph.D.

I first met Fred E. Killebrew on a golf course near Houston, Texas in April, 2013. I arrived at the golf course by myself and the person behind the counter asked if I would play with two brothers, Fred and Charley Killebrew. I soon learned that Fred was 90 years old and his brother, Charley, was in his early 80’s. Before long I also discovered that the brothers were former Marines. Fred had fought in World War II and had served two tours in the Pacific and Charley had fought and been wounded in Korea. After getting to know Fred better, I asked if I could have an interview. I conducted a series of interviews with Fred and the first was on June 7, 2013 at his home in Seabrook, Texas. read more

The title “Marine” brings us back to LIFE!

Bill Cuccinello's incredible story "Semper Fi" reminds me of an event that I must share.

Several years ago my ex-boss and mentor, retired WWII Marine Captain George Karam was hit hard by a stroke and lapsed into a coma.  I ran into his two sisters while I was in town, I had not seen them or George in several years since I had moved out of the area where I had grown up and had held an after school job with George as my boss.  read more

Semper Fi… The Miracle That That Brought Me Back From Death

February 2, 2013, Lexington, MA. It was a windy and cold New England type day. I was just finishing up my morning exercise walk of one mile and proceeded up the stairs to my front door where I entered and sat down on the living room sofa to take my wife and sister-in-law shopping. Suddenly they noticed I was motionless, just sitting and staring into space with my mouth wide open. My wife exclaimed to her sister, ”There’s something wrong with him. Shake him!” Her sister shook me and nothing happened. I still remained motionless, as if in a trance. They immediately called 911. The voice on the other end said, “Put your ear next to his mouth and tell me if he’s breathing.” “He’s not breathing,” answered her sister. Within minutes, the ambulance with its complement of EMTs was on the scene. They rolled the patient of the floor, tried the paddles, all to no avail. Within minutes I was transported to Lahey Clinic in Burlington, MA., one of the premier hospitals in the New England area. read more

Absolutely Fearless

I finished reading Dakota Meyer's book; "Into the Fire", which explains how he earned the Medal of Honor. This is the story of a Man who was trying to save his "Brothers" during a terrible battle in Afghanistan. His Bravery was to try and aid his brothers who were caught in an ambush, he pushed his driver to keep going while he operated the machine gun in the turret. His actions show that he was trying to save his brothers by reading how he followed the tracers from his machine gun to get to the enemy gun, his concentration was to get there, not just the battle. Here is a Man who went into the Marine Corps because he wanted to, his Grandfather had been a Marine. read more

WW2 Marine

My wife and I stumbled upon a group of Marine's from the Marine Corps League out of Stanton, KY. As a retired Master Gunny I just had to chat with these guys for a while. A few weeks ago I read the book "Voices of the Pacific" and today I was privileged to speak to a fellow Marine (gent in the black hat) that fought on Guadalcanal. 87 years old and sharp as a tack! Semper Fi! read more