This is why I joined the Marine Corps. This picture was taken on Nov 8, 1955 when I was 5 years old in downtown Baltimore, Md. It was published on Nov 10, 1955 in the Baltimore Sun newspaper celebrating the Marine Corps birthday. From that point on I knew that I wanted to be a Marine. I fulfilled that dream in June 68 and served four glorious years. I was able to find the Marine Staff Sergeant pictured with me in October 2001. He is Retired Sergeant Major Francis C. Rohrs. Hope you enjoy.
Semper Fi
Kevin W. Lowe
Sgt USMC
Ooh Rah! It’s always good to follow your dream. That’s what life is all about. Semper Fi.
I like the SSgt. (E-5) in Dress Blues carrying a swagger stick!! Sharp looking. Semper Fi
My complements and military salute to those soldiers who join the USMC, “Once you a Marine always a Marine”. Semper-Fi. Ooh Rah!
You should know better Cpl. There are NO SOLDIERS in the Marines !
I don’t have your name: but you’re right who ever you are. Soldiers & Marines both are branches that do almost the same task; they get hurt, fight, bleed and die. The only difference is, one group join the army rather the marine. Marines are expeditionary combat forces and the army an occupation troops force. Army, Navy, Air Force, Cost Guard and Marine they all serving in the military and hold extraordinary credibility, respect and honor. But my branch USMC stands out among the rest. Again, you’re right who ever you are “THE NAM MARINE” .Is inappropriate word, I should be using the battle troops as a generic terms, not soldiers. It is a big cultural differences among the military branches, I know. As I always say: ‘Once a marine always a marine’ Semper-Fi.
In 1948 I was in the 2nd. grade. Our teacher was patriotic and taught us all the hymns from all the branches of the service. When we went to The Marine Corps Hymn, there was a picture of these marines making a landing. That’s when I knew I wanted to be a Marine. I fulfilled that desire in January of 1961.
My Father was a “Mustang” Captain in the USMC. A China Marine. A Veteran of WW 2 & Korea at the Frozen Chosin. Hard but fair, but woe upon us if my 2 brothers & I forgot to put the “Sir” on the end of a yes or no question. I was raised on Camp Pendleton and Marine Bases, near and far. He was a hell-raiser and a hard drinker but had a spotless record. When I told him I wanted to join the Marine Corps after high school, he told me I should go to college and be an Officer. I told him I wanted to be a “mustang like you.” He smiled, shook his head, and signed the permission papers.
I wanted to join the Marines from the devil pup program (1957, 1958) when our explorer post from gardena, california was invited to attend. Did I have fun: M-1, BAR, 30 Cal MG, 50 Cal MG, bazooka, grenades, etc. Sure made it easier in bootcamp. The DI’s thought I was CID for 1 month. Made the bunk regulation style, the DI tore it apart, I remade it the same. My father did not like it because of WW11, but I went in any ways 2 weeks after HS graduation (July 1959). Enjoyed 10 years in the Marines. Semper Fi. What I learned in the Marine Corps, I applied within the Marines , leading Marines and leading civilians for 27 years in the aerospace industry building various types of aircrafts (planning, tooling, sheetmetal, subassembly, assembly, electrical, hydraulics, avionics, subassembly, assembly, final assembly and fly away. My sons, grand children, great grand childrens are amayzed at what I had done over the years. I just tell them, Marine Corps training!!!
I joined because my dad was a Korean War vet with the 5th Marines, my uncle Rick was a vet in VietNam with the 5th Marines, Dad was tough growing up and a couple of us were recruited in high school. I, being 17 needed a signature and got it from mom and dad gave it. I turned 18 in boot camp and didnt tell a soul, that would bring some real bad time. VietNam was still going, it was 1972. After schools I went to Btry M 4/11 met some really great guys and dont regret anything. Got out as E4 Corporal. SemperFi
Mark Peterson, were you with M 4/11 at 29 Palms in ’72 & ’73? I was in Hq. Btry & worked in Btry Supply & the S-4 office. Contact me: usmcvet6973@gmail.com
.Mark Peterson,and Thomas Tilque. I was with kilo co.4/11 at 29 Palms in 71&72.Here is my e-mail give me a shout.elkexpress@yahoo.com
My Dad’s B-29 made two emergency landings on Iwo (low on fuel and flak damage). He was forever grateful to Marines for taking Iwo. Without it, damaged B-29s would not have made it back to the Marianna Islands (and I wouldn’t be here).
I knew I wanted to be a Marine when my older brother was going through boot camp we received his platoon book before he got home, and I knew as well as he did when he got home. I felt so much pride just looking at the pictures. That’s the thing, you never see any of the other services with the pride of belonging. Being in the Marine Corps is a sacred fraternity that only a Marine can know and feel. There is nothing like it. When you here the Marines hymn played you still get that same feeling of the pride of being the best and that shiver down your back that only a Marine can feel.
I joined in 1967 fresh out of High school. My Uncle was a Leatherneck on Iwo Jima when the flag was raised. I was in Vietnam in 1968, 69 during the TET Offensive. I was TAD to 4th Marines, 3rd Mar.Div. stationed at a little place called Ca Lu. It was north of Khe-Sanh .
In 1955 I received a postcard in the mail with a picture of a Marine in dress blues with the words, “This could be you”. A month later I joined the Corps and served 20 years. Semper Fi!
My dad was a China Marine. In WW2, he was with Edson’s Raiders. In Korea, he was with Chesty Puller at Chosin. I was born in Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego and raised in Camp Pendleton where I learned to swim, scuba, ride horses, shoot, play baseball, and bivouac before I entered middle school. When I was 13, my dad became the Sgt Major at MCRD, SD, and we moved to San Diego. I joined the Marine Reserve when I was 17, did a 6th month active duty tour after high school, and then went to San Diego State Univ., graduating Summa Cum Laude. Then I got an MA and entered the Ph. D. program in Political Economy at U.C., Berkeley. When Vietnam heated up, I took a leave from Berkeley and went active duty for 2 years. I qualified for Force Recon, and volunteered for a special ops Force Recon unit in Nam whose duty assignments were in North Vietnam. By this time, I was a Staff Sergeant, and in Nam I was either in charge or second in command on our missions. I didn’t want to be an officer because officers did not go on Force Recon missions (at least not in Vietnam, and I think it’s still this way today). I did an 18 month tour, didn’t get wounded (at least not physically), went back to Cal, Berkeley where I received a Ph. D. I’m a retired university professor, but will always be a Marine. Semper Fi.