Another tribute to 1STSGT Tandy Wells

I got to Paris Island the same weekend as Woodstock. I don't remember the date, but as it happens it was late at night. Anyone who was lucky enough to get to Paris Island knows the rest of the story. However, this is about then Sgt. Tandy Wells. He was a junior Drill Instructor Platoon 1038. I was 20 years old when I went there in 1969 and I bet the then Sgt. Wells was about the same age. He was pretty short for a Marine I thought, about 5'-6" at the most, young enough looking to be perceived as baby-faced, I was 5-3 or so, shortest recruit in the platoon. A size  6 1/2 or 7 set of boots was not to be had for me at the time, and as it turned out, never. So I did everything with what was available. Well, we know what large ill-fitting boots can do to a pair of feet! It was hard to do anything with bad feet and of course that gets the wrong type of attention from the Drills. When I explained to Sgt. Wells what the problem was, he gave me even more hell for not letting them know. Then he went to the Drill Instructors office and came out with a set of the  shiniest  boots I had ever seen. He told me to see if they fit, they did, and fit great. He said,"they're yours", and that may have been followed by some derogetory expletives as only a Marine Drill Instructor could spout  out.   His next words were  "I expect you to be the best G_ _ D_ _ _ recruit here now. Those are my best boots". I took home the "Blues". Of course I was grateful but didn't have a full grasp of what I was experiencing. I didn't need any special treatment, tutoring or favor to earn the honor of being the best recruit in my platoon, I simply needed the right "tools" of the trade. Sgt Wells made sure I had the right "tools" and the right training to become a Marine. I am certain I am not the only "lower than plant life scum " that he went that extra step for. I know some will enjoy this and some not, but I hope his family gets to see it, every word true to fact. Whenever I think of "Courage, Honor and Commitment" I think of Tandy Wells. Thanks again, Semper Fi read more

Generals’ Meeting

There was a brief meeting of several Generals and an Admiral. The Air Force General said, “I think I have finally found a way to show you true guts. Airman, come here!”

The airman trotted over and came to attention with a brisk, “Yes, sir?”

The Air force General said, “Airman, climb to the top of that flag pole”.

“Yes, Sir,” came the quick response and up the pole he went.

When the airman reached the top, the General told him to jump. The airman shouted, “Yes, Sir,” and dropped to his death.

The General turned to his peers and said, “Now that is guts.”

The Army General did the same and the Admiral did too, with the same results as the Air Force poor airman. The Marine General told them they were all full of shit and called a Marine Private over. “Private, climb that flag pole!”

“Sir, yes, Sir!” was the quick response and up the pole he went. The Marine General than told him to jump. The Marine Private's response was, “Sir, no, Sir!”. The General than turned to his peers and said, “now that's guts.”

Though you might like this one, if you haven't heard it yet. read more

Operation Shaving Cream

Improvise, adapt, and overcome!

 

Residents in northeast Georgia have rallied to send cases of shaving cream to Marines downrange, and it’s not to help the first sergeant enforce grooming standards.

Members of Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, now deployed to the Sangin district of Helmand province, Afghanistan, are using the “beard-busting” cream to mark improvised explosive devices and save lives. read more