On the Occasion of the Marine Corps' Semiquincentennial

[jkernitzki]

I may be a retired squid, but I love the Corps. Hell, I was even a Devil Pup (cringe!) back in ’68 at Pendleton, 2nd ITR. In the Navy, my second boat was the USS Lewis B Puller (FFG-23). As part of the Precommissioning crew I attended Team Training at Dam Neck, VA, and while there we traveled to Saluda to see LtGen Puller’s home and visited with his widow for a fine afternoon of beer and boiled peanuts.

Miss Virginia was an amazing woman, and it was easy to see how she provided Chesty the anchor in his life. I sat in his chair in the back room and browsed through many of his books, reading his notes in the margins, made in pencil. His pipe stand on the side table next to his reading chair was left untouched, and the aroma of his tobacco still lingers in my memory. We photographed his shadow box and replicated it for our ship and even stopped on the way back to “liberate” the highway sign for the Lewis B Puller Memorial Highway to later affix in the mess line.

At the ship’s commissioning, I met Chesty’s son, Lewis Jr., and was reacquainted with Miss Virginia. We were regaled with war stories (some even true) by then Commandant General Robert H. Barrow when he and Chesty served together and then got to see him squirm when Miss Virginia talked about what “a fine lover” Lewis was.

For all that, I will never stop giving grief to my lean, green brothers and sisters. My favorite punchline is still, “I’m not a Marine, I’m just wearing his hat”. (This being a family forum, decorum prevents me from retelling the joke, or at least the version I recall).

So, on this joyous day celebrating your birth 250 years ago (in a tavern, appropriately), I made a cake for you.

Semper Fi,

John

(for those who don’t know about LtGen Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, here’s a recent documentary about his life and career):

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[lil moe]

I may be a retired squid, but I love the Corps. Hell, I was even a Devil Pup (cringe!) back in ’68 at Pendleton, 2nd ITR. In the Navy, my second boat was the USS Lewis B Puller ( FFG-23). As part of the Precommissioning crew I attended Team Training at Dam Neck, VA, and while there we traveled to Saluda to see LtGen Puller’s home and visited with his widow for a fine afternoon of beer and boiled peanuts.

Miss Virginia was an amazing woman, and it was easy to see how she provided Chesty the anchor in his life. I sat in his chair in the back room and browsed through many of his books, reading his notes in the margins, made in pencil. His pipe stand on the side table next to his reading chair was left untouched, and the aroma of his tobacco still lingers in my memory. We photographed his shadow box and replicated it for our ship and even stopped on the way back to “liberate” the highway sign for the Lewis B Puller Memorial Highway to later affix in the mess line.

At the ship’s commissioning, I met Chesty’s son, Lewis Jr., and was reacquainted with Miss Virginia. We were regaled with war stories (some even true) by then Commandant General Robert H. Barrow when he and Chesty served together and then got to see him squirm when Miss Virginia talked about what “a fine lover” Lewis was.

For all that, I will never stop giving grief to my lean, green brothers and sisters. My favorite punchline is still, “I’m not a Marine, I’m just wearing his hat”. (This being a family forum, decorum prevents me from retelling the joke, or at least the version I recall).

So, on this joyous day celebrating your birth 250 years ago (in a tavern, appropriately), I made a cake for you.

Semper Fi,

John

(for those who don’t know about LtGen Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, here’s a recent documentary about his life and career:

)

Happy 250th birthday Marine Corps

 

[wireman]

I may be a retired squid, but I love the Corps. Hell, I was even a Devil Pup (cringe!) back in ’68 at Pendleton, 2nd ITR. In the Navy, my second boat was the USS Lewis B Puller (FFG-23). As part of the Precommissioning crew I attended Team Training at Dam Neck, VA, and while there we traveled to Saluda to see LtGen Puller’s home and visited with his widow for a fine afternoon of beer and boiled peanuts.

Miss Virginia was an amazing woman, and it was easy to see how she provided Chesty the anchor in his life. I sat in his chair in the back room and browsed through many of his books, reading his notes in the margins, made in pencil. His pipe stand on the side table next to his reading chair was left untouched, and the aroma of his tobacco still lingers in my memory. We photographed his shadow box and replicated it for our ship and even stopped on the way back to “liberate” the highway sign for the Lewis B Puller Memorial Highway to later affix in the mess line.

At the ship’s commissioning, I met Chesty’s son, Lewis Jr., and was reacquainted with Miss Virginia. We were regaled with war stories (some even true) by then Commandant General Robert H. Barrow when he and Chesty served together and then got to see him squirm when Miss Virginia talked about what “a fine lover” Lewis was.

For all that, I will never stop giving grief to my lean, green brothers and sisters. My favorite punchline is still, “I’m not a Marine, I’m just wearing his hat”. (This being a family forum, decorum prevents me from retelling the joke, or at least the version I recall).

So, on this joyous day celebrating your birth 250 years ago (in a tavern, appropriately), I made a cake for you.

Semper Fi,

John

(for those who don’t know about LtGen Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, here’s a recent documentary about his life and career):

John, thanks for the birthday salute on the Corps 250th birthday. We are brothers, and we need and honor the navy's existence also.

I still continue to "serve" with some tired and retired Marines and 1 Navy FMF Corpsman in this unit at Riverside National Cemetery, honoring our veterans.

A shameless plug, but I'm extremely proud of what we do to ensure veterans receive full military honors. Going into my 18th year with Semper Fi #1.

https://againtheyserve.org/index2.php

Thought you might enjoy this observation of Marines from a Navy perspective.

 

[jkernitzki]

John, thanks for the birthday salute on the Corps 250th birthday. We are brothers, and we need and honor the navy's existence also.

I still continue to "serve" with some tired and retired Marines and 1 Navy FMF Corpsman in this unit at Riverside National Cemetery, honoring our veterans.

A shameless plug, but I'm extremely proud of what we do to ensure veterans receive full military honors. Going into my 18th year with Semper Fi #1.

https://againtheyserve.org/index2.php

Thought you might enjoy this observation of Marines from a Navy perspective.

Many thanks for what you have done and will continue to do!

With regards to Marine guards, I can state with complete confidence that in the years they were at the gates of 32nd St, not a single gate was stolen. A perfect record, never broken. Try and top that, Air Force!

 

[Bill G]

Happy Birthday Marines!

I rode submarines, so we didn’t get Marines of our own, but, we did deliver and pick up some in Nam. They came aboard telling us how tough they were . . . that is until the first “trim” dive. After we took ‘em down once they thought different — one summed it up, “you’re some crazy mother f****rs”.

Here’s to the Corps!

 

[wireman]

Happy Birthday Marines!

I rode submarines, so we didn’t get Marines of our own, but, we did deliver and pick up some in Nam. They came aboard telling us how tough they were . . . that is until the first “trim” dive. After we took ‘em down once they thought different — one summed it up, “you’re some crazy mother f****rs”.

Here’s to the Corps!

Bill, you couldn't give me enough hazardous duty pay to climb in one of those and deliberately sink it and hope it comes back up.

My hats off to all the submariner's who serve. I concur; you are some crazy MF'ers.

When I read about those who served on the diesels in WW II, it humbles me.

 

[jkernitzki]

Happy Birthday Marines!

I rode submarines, so we didn’t get Marines of our own, but, we did deliver and pick up some in Nam. They came aboard telling us how tough they were . . . that is until the first “trim” dive. After we took ‘em down once they thought different — one summed it up, “you’re some crazy mother f****rs”.

Here’s to the Corps!

The “deliveries” you mentioned reminded me of a brief tour of the Grayback I got in Pusan. I know she was used as kind of a prototypical SDV, but the thought of a Marine squad or two stuffed in the modified Regulus tubes gives me chills (and a few giggles).

 

[Glenlivet]

With four generations of Marines in my family, I was the black sheep who went navy, though redeemed myself by becoming a Corpsman. I served with 2/9 at the start of my service then with 3/2 as a warrant PA at the tail end. Submarine, cruiser and a minesweeper in between. But my favorite memory of service with the FMF came just prior to my first deployment.

We were going to be inspected by a major general from HQMC. To prepare I brushed up on all the weapons in my platoon and could cite muzzle velocities, effective ranges, and sustained rates of Fire till the cows came in. So what does the general ask me? “Doc, when is the Navy’s birthday?

I had no idea!

Thinking quickly I bellowed, “SIR, the only date that matters to me is 10 November 1775, SIR!”

The First Sergeant paled. My CO grimaced. But the general thumped me on the arm and shouted, ”Outstanding, Doc!“

 

[wireman]

With four generations of Marines in my family, I was the black sheep who went navy, though redeemed myself by becoming a Corpsman. I served with 2/9 at the start of my service then with 3/2 as a warrant PA at the tail end. Submarine, cruiser and a minesweeper in between. But my favorite memory of service with the FMF came just prior to my first deployment.

We were going to be inspected by a major general from HQMC. To prepare I brushed up on all the weapons in my platoon and could cite muzzle velocities, effective ranges, and sustained rates of Fire till the cows came in. So what does the general ask me? “Doc, when is the Navy’s birthday?

I had no idea!

Thinking quickly I bellowed, “SIR, the only date that matters to me is 10 November 1775, SIR!”

The First Sergeant paled. My CO grimaced. But the general thumped me on the arm and shouted, ”Outstanding, Doc!“

Great story.

 

[jkernitzki]

With four generations of Marines in my family, I was the black sheep who went navy, though redeemed myself by becoming a Corpsman. I served with 2/9 at the start of my service then with 3/2 as a warrant PA at the tail end. Submarine, cruiser and a minesweeper in between. But my favorite memory of service with the FMF came just prior to my first deployment.

We were going to be inspected by a major general from HQMC. To prepare I brushed up on all the weapons in my platoon and could cite muzzle velocities, effective ranges, and sustained rates of Fire till the cows came in. So what does the general ask me? “Doc, when is the Navy’s birthday?

I had no idea!

Thinking quickly I bellowed, “SIR, the only date that matters to me is 10 November 1775, SIR!”

The First Sergeant paled. My CO grimaced. But the general thumped me on the arm and shouted, ”Outstanding, Doc!“

October 13th, Doc. We’re the older sibling. And also without a break in service.

 

[TheX]

I served with outstanding Marines onboard Enterprise and Coral Sea, as well as Miramar and Lemoore.

Excellent shipmates.

I was an AT, Tomcat fixer.

 

[Bill G]

‘67-‘71 was riding diesel boats commissioned in’43. Our “passengers” got our racks, I spent some time sleeping on top of a torpedo under the deck plates — didn’t make me a real “happy camper”

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