Category: Proud to be a Marine

Trying To Locate Some Brothers

Sir,

I am trying to locate some brothers from a long time ago… I
thought by putting this letter and picture in your newsletter
one of your readers just might recognize one or more of these
guys. This picture was taken in the Philippines during Operation
Strongback in 1957 while with Kilo Btry, 4th Battalion, 12th
Marines. read more

Our Weapons Were the Greatest

While looking through some old pictures I noticed how much
things have changed in the Corps over the past 56 years… The
only camouflage we had was our helmet covers and the netting
over our 155 Howitzers… Our Quonset huts were heated by a coal
or wood burning stove set in the middle of the hut… Our daily
uniform was the old green herringbone pattern utilities… Our
weapons were the greatest Rifle ever invented… The 3.0 cal.
Semi- Automatic Gas operated M1 Garand, The Browning A.R. And
the Model 1911 (45 cal. Another great weapon… Those in this
picture are young Marines of Kilo Btry. 4th Battalion 12th
Marines, 3rd Marine Div. Camp Hauge, Okinawa… Miles… After
looking at this picture I realized though the weapons, uniforms,
and housing have drastically changed, it's still the same Marine
Corps and always will be at the ready… Old Corps, New Corps no
difference as long as it's Marine Corps… read more

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

Thank You to My DI

This past October I went on a 3-day bus tour of Parris Island
sponsored by the Marine Corps League, Sgt Jason M. Ileo Detachment
1147 of Centerville, MD, along with a few other detachments from
Maryland. There were about 40 Marines who went on the trip. We had
a great time seeing first-hand all the training the recruits
undergo in becoming Marines. It brought back a lot of memories for
me. One of the proudest moments for me was seeing 509 Marines
graduate. This really reinforced my belief that the Corps is in
good hands. read more