SGT Grit:
I just celebrated my 40th Marine Corps Birthday at Camp Victory, Iraq.
To make a long story short, I served as an enlisted Marine 1967-1973 and after an eight year break joined the National Guard to get a commission and have been in every since. I've had several active tours since 9/11 and most recently with the Army Operations Center at the Pentagon and I came to Iraq as HQDA LNO to MNC-I.
Marine Corps 232nd Birthday in Iraq – 10 Nov 2007
In the afternoon, the Marines put on a great cake cutting ceremony that was attended by all branches of service. They had a Marine color guard, band, and of course a great motivational speech by the senior Marine, MajGen Paxton The youngest Marine was a female lance corporal and the oldest was a older looking Major who was serving as a Marine retiree recall and he was dressed in an older era uniform.
That night the general hosted a dinner at his house for all Marines, past and present, and when desert time came, he gave another great speech and said now we want to find the "real" youngest and oldest Marines to cut the cake. The female lance corporal was replaced by a younger male lance corporal. The older Marine announced his birthday and the General asked for any Marine present that was older. I raised my hand and told him my birth date and that I graduated from Parris Island as a Marine in 1967. See attached, the oldest Marine waiting to get the first piece of cake is wearing an Army uniform (Me).
OOH-RAH and Semper Fidelis,
"BULLDOG"
THOMAS W. SIMPSON
COL, FA
MNC-I C3 PLANS / HQDA G-3 LNO
That is a great story! S/FI COL!!!
Semper Fidelis!!! USMC 1955-59 USA 1961-61
Yes, I am also a Marine who wore an LTC Army uniform in the New Mexico State Guard after 9-11. Will admit under that uniform was the original grunt Marine. Semper Fi. Colonel.
Semper Fi, USMC ’61-’71, USA ’76-’93
You still look the part Col. Lean/mean/fighting machine. Semper Fi. You do us proud.
L/CPL BOBBY OWENS,SEMPER FI.COL. AND TO ALL MARINE’S, LOVE YOU ALL! SERVED WITH FIRST MAR DIV IN NOM 69-75.
Dungaree green under the USAF blue! MCRD SD June 1958; discharged 1963. Enlisted USAF in 1972 and retired as Command CMSgt Jan 2000. Semper Fi.
Semper Fi!! I joined the Marines 1976 – 1990 after 13 years break I joined the Army 2003 – 2014. No matter where you go in life The Marine Corps will always be with you. Semper Fi, DO OR …
Oorah Marine Corps…(clap clap) Ugh!! 90-98
Occasional trying for celebration and have a good time. All marines deserve to enjoy every moment to dissipate any difficulties when serving in peace or in war battle time. Birthday, Marriage, Decorations, Ball Times, and many other military celebrations without loosing the military discipline should be have fun. We in Nam we could and did celebrate many times y inside the Saigon, Da-Nang, as well In Philippine, Subic & Clark, Fort Gulick and Fort Quick in Panama City and other classified military bases. I did serve in Vietnam in Special Elite Tactic Intelligent Operations Force from 1962 to 1972. My records show: DD214 Honorable Military Discharge. Semper-Fi. I owe my respect to my commander tactical operations to lieutenant colonel J.R. Clayton. Ooh-Rah. (Once a Marine always a Marine)
Oldest Marine? I think not, Boot. Sept 1958-1962. Sgt E-5 0331 Co.M 3/5. Got out, went back to school. Got MD degree and then a four year residency in surgical pathology, where one of my mentors and friend was a full bird colonel in the Guard who, against my better judgement, talked me into accepting a commission as a Captain in the Army. Well friends, this turned out to be a union not made in Heaven, as this was not my idea of a military unit-not to mention the fact that I was a little too surly for them. I resigned the commission after 4 or 5 years. My two greatest accomplishments were (1) making E-5 in three years (2) When I received my MD degree.