Smith, Danny, MSgt

Best Friends
Donald R. WITHROW Admin Chief (retired 1stSgt,living in Winchester,Ky),Hospital Corpsman Ron COFFEY (deceased)& former Marine Richard Durham

Best Moment
When I was Commisioned as a Honorary KENTUCKY COLONEL and became a memember of the (A.L.E.) Accociation of Law Enforcement presented by The Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond,Ky. I worked with the local Marine Recruiters,setting up Static Displays & Equipment including weapons & vehicals at Masterson Station Park Fair Grounds.I enjoyed teaching new recruites (poolees) about small arms,safety,and letting them fam fire at the indoor range with both pistols & using 22 cal.adaptors for M-16's. with thier Recruiters as Saftey Coaches. I got to work with local law enforcement officers and other agencies, to include ATF along with community leaders, public officials and social & historical groups. I taught classes on The Flag to The Boy Scouts. I atteneded Eastern Ky University's Law Enforcement Career Day & explained Marine Corps Opportunities both in Reserve & Regular,Enlisted & Commissioned Officer Programs. I set up tactical and garrison equipment and weapons displays in the Fayette Mall with the Lexington Metro Police Dept for Law Enforcement Month every May. I worked with the US ARMY RESERVE,US NAVAL RESERVE & KENTUCKY NATIONAL GUARD especially THE KY AIR NATL GUARD during our Helo Ops/lifts and training at Ft Knox.Most of the pilots were Marine Vietnam Vets and flew out of Frankfort,Ky.I enlisted Kieth SPURLOCK while he was attending UK during his time as USMCR he made Sgt and upon graduation was Commisioned as a Marine 2nd Lt. He later moved to CA.and was on the Sheriff's Dept before going on active duty. After I retired I got a letter from Captain SPURLOCK while he was deployed during to the First Iraqi Gulf War,with words to the effect,"Top,where the Hell are you!"

Worst Moment
Our job was to inspect & instruct the Reserves but it was really our job train them for the day that they might be called upon to serve on active duty & deploy for a mission any where in the world. Some times I felt that we were there to make'em look good because they got all the credit & if things were screwed up well...us regulars go all the blame. We never did get reconized for all we did but we made'em look good. During Vietnam it was a place to serve out your military obligation for what ever reasons individuals had.Some had other obligations and need to be home,weather it be College,a job or a wife,kids or other family that needed them.Some had been on active duty & just wanted to keep thier hand in but I'd like to think it was becauses they to were and are Marines & not just week-end worriers. During our history The Marine Corps Reserve has saved the war i.e. in the Korean War & today in two wars& when called to serve,they march towards the sounds of the battle. Just for info.there was a time when the USMCR would let any prior service member from Any branch of service,that had served hornorably,join the USMCR ranks,Without going thru Marine Corps Boot Camp.( I thought that to be &.$.)I found out that the unit had a MGySgt that never went to boot camp but in those days I'm told that the early training took place at the reserve unit.He turned out to be a Korean War Hero.It really poped my bubble when I learned that Most members of The Marine Corps Band,"The Presidents Own" are mostly civilians under contract that are not required to go to Boot Camp & start out with E-6 pay and ware the uniform.To me they are not real Marines. But then again the Reserves received 4days pay for a 2day drill and you might get a half a days work out of them but that was before Captain Dan Buckle,an old Mustanger & China Marine took charge.The "Skipper"is 80 years old now & retired a Major,living in the North Western Mountains of North Carolina (a place very near what we call Mayberry RFD).I stay in touch with him.Funny how some of your worse moments turn out to be some of your fondest memories.

Chain of Command
DURING MY TIME; The I&I's (inspector-instructors were: Captains Dave BOULDEN,Capt.Daniel J.BUCKLE Jr. (retired as a Major) & Stephen SHIVERS retired as a Col,1stSgt's,GARRETT,Harold REDMON (retired a SgtMaj living in Okinawia with his wife Kim & 1stSgt Larry NAPIER (he invited me to TWS),CORPSMEN Ron COFFEY (deceased)& Greg TIMS, Motor T./ Training GySgt's Steve VASQUEZ (Retired a MGySgt)& David CLUCK (retired a MSgt), Admin Chief,s SSgt's ELCHELMAN & Donald Ray WITHROW (retired a 1stSgt),Supply GySgt Carl GREEN & SSgt Stanley SAIN, Admin Clerk's Sgt ARNOLD & Cpl Randy BLACKWELL.Comm Chief's SSgt KELLY & myself.On the Reserve side the CO's were Maj PRICE,Maj Gary SLONE retired as a Col (decesed),Maj Earl BRADY,Capt CLARK,& 1stSgt INGRAM.

Other Memories
Running the indoor range at the reserve center in Lexington and the KD (known distance) rifle range at Ft Knox,Ky.The qulification and fam fire of 45cal pistol,M16's,M60's,and the Rememington 870 riot shotguns.We were sending Detachments of USMCR to Ft Knox to ride shot gun with the Army's MP's.We would send several Dets. to different Summer Camp sites to include CAX's at 29 Palms,Ca.We were involved in exercise "Nifty Nugget" which was a total reserve recall nation wide,mobilazation drills (MORTs,)plus the regular drill week-end.Our reserves were always comming or going or drilling,always training.The I&I Staff was always there. We participated in lots of Parades,Color Guards,and Funerals Details