On April 6th my twin sons, Louis and Norb, received their Eagle, Globe and Anchor and became United States Marines. The next day they graduated with India Company in Platoon 3071! Aside from their birth, that was the proudest two days of my life.
We traveled from Jacksonville, Florida to attend their graduation and Family Day at MCRD San Diego. Our home is only 3 hours from Parris Island, but they were allowed to go through recruit training in San Diego because the Marine Corps Legacy program. I went through boot camp in Platoon 3056 in San Diego in 1971, coincidentally in the same Company – India!
I was able to find 2 of my old cover emblems and brought them with me to San Diego, along with something very special from an Iwo Jima veteran, Cpl Gene Gustad, affectionately known by the members Sgt Grit web forum as “Poppa Gene”.
I was unable to locate my sons’ SDI Wednesday evening, even with the assistance of the 3d Bn Operations Chief, but I met a Drill Instructor from Lima Company, SSgt Jacobs, who offered to personally find him and deliver the cover emblems. Thursday morning before the emblem ceremony my sons’ SDI told them he had something from their dad and would deliver it at the ceremony. Sure enough, he made them Marines with my old emblems! I could easily see they were mine, as they were ‘salty’ and black finish was rubbed off and the brass shown through! When they were dismissed for base liberty the flood gates of emotion broke loose. I cried tears of joy as I hugged both of them together.
On base liberty we shared a picnic area with a couple families from their platoon had a nice picnic lunch. Afterward my wife and I were able to present them with that very special item from Poppa Gene – volcanic ash ‘sand’ from Iwo Jima!
We were able to meet their SDI, SSgt Good, afterwards visit with him briefly. He said he knew my sons must have been prepared by a Marine and they were a real asset to his platoon. It really made me so proud to hear his words about them and their efforts. We then delivered some of the same volcanic ash ‘sand’ that Poppa Gene had sent specifically for him as well. He was clearly moved. My sons posed for a photo with him, their pride is obvious.
There is so much more to this story like my best friend from Corps, Gus Shirley, who drove from Los Angeles to be there. He has known them from their toddler days and he was beaming with pride. My younger brother, Steve, who followed me in the Corps, we was a very proud uncle that day as well.
At my side in San Diego was my wife of 24 years, Warlie. I was a SSgt when we met and married and she had no experience with becoming a Marine and what boot camp was all about, now she is one proud Marine Mom!
Well, that’s my story. My only sons have followed their father’s foot steps in the same Company in the same recruit depot and became Marines wearing the same emblems I had. A lovely young lady, the daughter we never had, was with all of us the whole journey and now starts her own.
Thank you for your newsletters and web forum, as they have brought real joy to our Marine Corps family.
It doesn’t get any better for this Marine!
Semper Fi and a hearty OORAH!!
Norb Logsdon
Gunnery Sergeant, USMC retired, Proud father of twin Marines and Proud ‘GunnyDad’ to Recruit Stacy