Marines Marrying Marines

It seems that there are more Marines marrying Marines, so I thought I would add my two bits: I met my husband at Cherry Point in 1965 on a blind date, a few days after his return from Viet Nam.  Six months later, on April 15, 1967, we were married in a beautiful church in beautiful downtown Morehead City, North  Carolina, by a minister who had a wonderful Scottish brogue. We were both PFCs, and our wedding rings were bought at the PX for a total of $20.00.  After the ceremony, we went to our small mobile home, where I cooked fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and veggies for the wedding party.  After dinner, and many toasts to the bride and groom, the wedding party crashed on the living room sofa and floor, and I passed out in bed with my maid-of-honor. It has been an interesting and wonderful life. We have a son (a computer engineer working for a government agency, who has twin boys, a daughter, and a grandson), and a daughter (living in Phoenix, who has four children and a grandson), all happy and healthy.  We just celebrated 44th years of continuous marriage, and I will never be able to say it wasn’t an interesting life.  I have attached a picture of the handsome Marine I married. read more

This sign doesn’t come down until they come home

To All my Friends and Fam.

Three Van Horn Tx natives, may god bless them and return them back safe and sound. I send this on a day of remembrance so that others may remember what they do as we sit in the safety of our homes.  May we also take a moment and sit in silence so that we may remember all that gave their lives so that we could reap the reward of freedom. read more

Dad’s Tat & Flag

I know from time to time some post images of their new Marine Corps tats.
Thought some of your readers might enjoy seeing an old one that has been on my Dad's arm from my earliest remembrance. The words have faded a bit, but if memory serves me, the words Semper Fidelis are written on the banners.
His name is Raymond Pursell and he was in the Marines from April 1943 – January 1946. He said a couple of guys he served with got the same tat at the same time he did (before Iwo). read more

Memorial for a young Marines in Nashville

I am submitting something I wrote after joining a couple thousand people (mostly veterans) standing outside the memorial of a young Marine from Nashville Tennessee last week.  And the images are from that day also.

The images and sounds of  Monday, June 13, 2011 will be with me for a very long time.
I have never in my life seen so many veterans and waving flags, or heard the thunderous roar of so many motorcycles as I did while I stood in front of Woodmont Hills Family of God Church during the memorial for Sgt. Kevin B. Balduf.   read more

This year’s Gritogether

Sgt. Grit,

I had the priviledge to take my fiance and son to this years festivities.  What a blast it has been this last year to finally see The Place and meet The Sgt. behind all those goodies I have bought over the years.  I'm not sure the future wife really understood the pride I sang our beloved hymn or the gleam in my eye just being in the same place with that many Marines again.  My little buddy here loved the temporary tattoos.  He wore them with pride just like his daddy, and cried when I finally washed them off a week later.  Thank you for a great time and letting me introduce my boy and future wife to the Marines!  OOHRAH! read more

Something to share

For those that watched "After The Catch" who saw Capt. Andy Hillstrand wearing a Marine shirt, here's the reason why:

While not a Marine, Capt. Andy was at a NASCAR event in Charlotte, NC where he met a group of wounded servicemen (Andy is pro-military and has a lot of respect for those who serve). One of the men in the group was a Marine who had been seriously injured while serving and they spent quite a bit of time talking and hanging out at the race. He was wearing that particular shirt and Andy was in a Time Bandit shirt so they decided to swap shirts as a sign of mutual respect and admiration. read more