As the nation mourns the passing of one its finest patriots, current and former members of the Marine Band remember President George H. W. Bush as a man whose love of music and uncommon graciousness elevated the unique relationship between the Chief Executive and “The President’s Own.”
Farewell & RIP President George H. W. Bush
As I sit here watching the state funneral of President George H.W. Bush, I’m reminded of a very brief enconter with the man when he was Vice President in the spring of 1984. I was on the staff of USCentCom as the Operational Comm Chief of the J-6 Directorate and was assigned as the project officer for the DOD/FEMA Exercise Night Train. This exercise senerio involved a nuclear laydown by the Soviet Union on the United States and the reconstitution of the government after such a catastrophy. It was the first time that DOD and FEMA had worked directly on such an exercise and evidently Vice President Bush had a keen interest in it. Normally a field-grade officer would have beenUS assigned such a project, but we were short of field-grades, and USCentCom was a minor player, so USAF BGen Sam Greene J-6 assigned me. It was day two of the exercise, the laydown had occured and we were doing our morning brief to the CINC and staff. Just as I took the dais to brief comm status, from the back of the auditorium I heard, “Atten-hut!” and down the aisle strode the CINC, LTG Robert Kingston and Vice President Bush. They took their seats and the CINC nodded to me, and I began to give the status of satellite comms available when I was interupted by the Vice President saying, “Err, excuse me sergeant! Do you mean to say we still have satellites working after the laydown and subsequent electro magnetic pulse (EMP).” It was like a kick in the chest, so I gulped and glanced at my boss, Gen Greene, who gave me a nod. Gen Greene and I had disscussed this, because neither of us agreed with the Pentagon staff that satellites would not be burned out by the EMP. But the Pentagon had decided that if we lost all the satellites we would’nt be able to conduct an exercise, so lets pretend that they were OK. I explained this to VP Bush and waited for the onslaught. He simple asked if I thought we should practice war the we would have to fight it, and I agreed. He then said, “We’ll see about this!” So we finished the briefing and returned to the crisis action center. Within and hour we received a flash message from DOD that all satellites were gone, except one which had been hardened prior to launch. I remember feeling vindicated because the VP’s feelings mirrored my own, but as a minor player MSgt I didn’t have power to correct it, but as the Vice President he did, and he did something which made the exercise a little harded, but much more realistic. I mostly remember that when he spoke to me he didn’t speak down, but as an equal who had information that he needed to make a decision and he appreciated that. From that point on I always had the greatest admiration and respect for him, and as an independent voter was honored to cast my ballot for him in the 1988 presidential campagin. I retired from the U.S, Marine Corps later that year, but in 1990 when planning for and execution of Desert Shield and Desert Storm, I was one of the first to volunteer for reactivation because I knew that if we were being led by President Bush it would be done right. As with the lose of my own father who had fought in WWII a few years ago, I am saddended by the loss of those of The Greatest Generation, and hope that us Baby Boomers and others can continue his work. He will be sorely missed, May he rest in peace! With greatest respect, Edd Prothro, MSgt USMC Ret 1964-1984
Christmas At The Bridge: 1968
Christmas Eve 1968, while at the Liberty Bridge compound,about 1800 We were sitting around playing some “back alley bridge” when our platoon sgt walked into the hooch and said that he had a gift for us.From behind his back he pulled out a bottle of what turned out to be Jack Daniels (Maybe Jim Beam don’t know for sure anymore) I Had to go on watch at 2000 on the perimeter.Took one sip and thought ,at the time,that was it.I had the watch in the 50. Cal.bunker with 2 other guys and it was getting close to the end of my watch when off in the distance, on the other side of the river, toward the location of the “Alamo” , red and green cluster pop-ups were being shot off.There was no gunfire so we assumed it was to celebrate the Holiday.Someone on our line decided to return the same ,much to the dismay of the OD.I returned to the hooch just a little past midnight I thought everyone was asleep then I heard some one say “Hey Har we saved you a shot it’s sitting buy your rack” found it in my cup next to my rack ,smelled it first , shot it down said “Merry Christmas” and went to sleep . Just one of many memories that return from time to time. Harry
Funny How You Never Forget
Early 1967, I arrived at the An Hoa Combat Base from FLC (Fork Lift Command) at Red Beach, attached to the LSU (Logistic Support Unit). One of the first nights there, I attended the outdoor movies that were famous, or infamous, for showing war movies especially from the TV series “Combat”. There I sat watching the make-believe combat scenes on the movie screen while just a few hundred yards outside the perimeter real-life fire fights were taking place. We’d watch as our tracers crisscrossed with theirs. Strangest thing, the grunts sitting on the ground watching the war movies would break out in cheers when our tracers (I think) would engage the bad guys.
Uncontrolled Hysteria
When my buddies back in the United States were studying for their mid-terms, I was walking point for the first platoon of Bravo Company in the tropical jungles of Vietnam. Unlike the many occasions students are afforded leisure time – it was a rare day in Vietnam when we were given time off to relax and have fun. Therefore it was a marvelous treat when, one day, we were given the opportunity to spend a couple of hours swimming in a muddy river. We placed guards on either side of the river for security and the rest of us went swimming in our birthday suits.
When The Old DI Emerged
As a life-long believer in personal responsibility, decided that even as a field grade officer that if I was going to get kilt in a MVA (Motor Vehicle Accident), it was going to be because of something I did (or failed to do?) and not the fault of a Lance Corporal who was still using zit cream as after-shave. In other words, if I was in a Marine Corps vehicle, tactical or non-tactical, the Major was going to be driving. This occasionally caused some consternation among my brother officers, who would have questions like “how do you get the vehicle washed (or fueled, or ???)”… you know, that is sort of manual labor, which in garrison, is somehow deemed not fitting for officers… and somehow, the critics never quite made the connection between the fact that they had driven themselves into work that day… probably in a car that they had hand-waxed in the driveway of their quarters the preceding weekend… at any rate, at the Stumps in the mid-70’s, duty occasionally called somewhere off base, which meant a vehicle from the Commercial Motor Pool (10th Street, still there last time I flew Google Earth over the base)… The C-Pool had quite a mixture of civilian vehicles (including the CG’s sedan)… pickups, flat bed cargo trucks, cattle cars, MP vehicles (Plymouth Belvederes… four-door sedans, with a 318 Mopar)… and for some odd reason, exactly one Ford… a two-door small sedan, Marine Corps green on bottom, white on top… can’t say for sure but it was either a Pinto or a Maverick… and usually available, as it was just not cool for trips off base, when you could reserve a sedan, sit in the back and look important while PFC Johnny 35XX drove. It was my first choice every time, for trips to Pendleton, LA, the San Bernardino County prison (to deliver pothead/dopers BCD papers… always timed to be there at lunch in the guards’ mess… prison guards eat well… very well… and they like Marines… “what would you like, sir? T-bone be OK?, how would you like that? etc.”)… and the reason for the Pinto/Maverick? It’s a long way from the Stumps to anywhere… and this was the ONLY vehicle in the C-Pool that had a radio… AM only, to be sure, but a radio nonetheless. At the time, the radio was a ‘delete option’ meaning that if the buyer didn’t specify “no radio”… the car came with one.
Memories Of MCAS El Toro
I have many fond memories of MCAS El Toro. I was stationed there from Nov. ’56 thru Nov. ’59. I served with MARS-37 as a 6442 Hydraulics Repairman MOS. I would like to know where MARS-37 was moved to. I participated in the Fleet Schooling (acceptance) programs for the FJ4B North American A/C and later for the F8U Crusader A/C, known as FIP’s (Fleet Introduction Programs).
“MARAUDING” MARINE MAKES MARK WITH MANUSCRIPT
“MARAUDING” MARINE MAKES MARK WITH MANUSCRIPT
By Shannon Collins, Defense Media Activity
181020-D-SQ495-0001
Former Marine LCpl. David Roach, author of the “Marauder” Viking fantasy series, hands his new book, “Runebinder” to Navy Lt. Rosert Pfeiffer, Office Naval Intelligence, Washington, D.C., at Vikings Con in LaPlata, Maryland, Oct. 20, 2018.
Former jack-of-all trades Marine Reservist Lance Cpl. David Roach spent six years learning infantry tactics, machine gunnery, bulk fuels and heavy equipment while serving in the Marine Corps from 2002-2008.
Throughout his security career, he’s gone from a mall cop and security guard to being in charge of security personnel for hospitals, airports and companies. Currently, he’s a global security manager focused on crisis management, disaster monitoring and open source intelligence.
EYE IN THE SKY
It’s 2:00 a.m. on the Camp Pendleton coastline. Along the pitch-black rigid waters, an unknown object sends a signal to a Marine monitoring the shores with the lattice modular heli-drone security system. With the lift of a finger and press of a button, a drone is deployed to investigate, relay back crystal-clear footage and provide images that reveal a smuggling vessel slithering its way through our waters.
EIGHT GOLD STARS, ONE BRONZE AND ONE PURPLE HEART AWARDED
In one of the largest presentation ceremonies ever held at Camp Lejeune, eight Gold Stars in lieu of second Purple Hearts, one Bronze Star and one Purple Heart were awarded to ten Marine Veterans Saturday at the Hadnot Point parade ground by Lt. Col. T. M. Sheffield, Infantry Training Regiment, and Major L. G. Ditta, Infantry School Battalion.