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An up close and personal interview with U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
GySgt David A. Hardin U.S. Marine Corps (Ret) (1969-1992)
PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE MARINE CORPS?
I was inspired by three people to become a career military man. My father, who was in the Navy, my Uncle Jimmy, who was in the Air Force, and a neighbor, Mr. Ira Yon, who was also in the Navy and did stay for the long haul. My father was
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| Ira Yon |
in the Navy at the end of World War II. I remember many times hearing him talking to other men about his time in the Navy. He had been extremely fortunate to work for an old Master Chief that like him and showed him how to get promoted quickly. He would always tell everyone that he got out at the end of the war after only six months service as a Petty Officer First Class and the Chief told him if he stayed in he would make him a CPO.
Even as a child I could tell that he had a longing to still be there and would always finish the story with that road not taken type of reflection, "I wonder what rank I'd be if I had stayed in?"
Mr. Yon lived behind me when I was growing up. He was in the Navy and was a career man. I would see him when he came in on leave. He was always nice to me and was a good man, still is! He may not know it but he taught me a little lesson about how NOT to cross-thread a nut and/or a bolt. He lives about a quarter mile away and is probably in his eighties.
My Uncle Jimmy went into the Air Force and I was convinced that this was where I wanted to spend my life. He made it sound like fun and pretty easy. I was a bit lazy then so easy sounded fine to me. I had decided when I was in the sixth grade that I was going to graduate high school, join the US Air Force and make a career of it and stay in. Little did I know that God had other plans for me. So after I graduated, I chased the USAF recruiter over five counties for about a year going from one office to the next. Because there was a waiting list at the time to join, I never actually saw him, only his notes that said he would be in one of the other offices on a certain day and time. Yep, you guessed it! He would not be THERE either. I finally tired of the chase and just said the heck with it.
Then when I turned 18 (yes I graduated very young) the draft board started giving me nudges to do something on my own or they would help me along. I managed to find the USAF guy this time, but I ended up joining the Marines instead. I won't go into the details as to why. I was being guided by a higher power I reckon. So in late May 1969 I found myself on those yellow footprints on Parris Island, SC wondering what in the name of God had I gotten myself into! I survived and learned to love it.
WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
The reason that I finally decided to retire from active duty was many fold. First my body had been telling me it was time to go for a while. My knees, my back, my wrists, and almost every joint in my body, as I had arthritis of one sort or
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| Education is the key for upward mobility |
another everywhere. It was a day full of aspirin to ease the joint pain and keep on going. Oh I could still run the PFT successfully and make first class. I would even finish the run ahead of a lot of younger guys, but it was not without a painful cost to me. I had observed others who hung around and hung around way past the time when they were actually productive or even useful in any positive way.
The just took up space on somebody's TO and cost somebody else an opportunity to do some good in the billet that they were filling. Many of them would find a secluded unit way out from the rest of the Marine world where they could effectively "hide" until they reached the maximum time that the Corps would allow for them the stay. Then it was off to retirement for them with not much chance of getting a better than average paying job because of their advanced age and usually lack of required skill sets. I was not going to be that guy.
Our MOS, Aviation Ordnance had once been known throughout the Corps as a very tight knit group of guys from coast to coast to OCONUS to CONUS no matter where you went. If you were to walk into an Ordnance shop in need of something, the men there would help you get it, and offer to help with whatever on which you were working. Then along about the early to mid-80's something happened. I do not know what it was, but when I returned from recruiting duty it was obvious to me. I found myself in a shop where everyone addressed everyone else by their first name. The MSGT who was the Ordnance Division Chief was Jerry, the SSGT who was the Line Chief was R. L., and the Crew Chiefs were Joe and Van. It was unbelievable to me.
 Shortly after I was assigned as the NCOIC one of my young LCPL's came up to me and began a casual conversation. Then he got to the point of the session when he asked, "Hey Gunny, what do you want us to call you? You know, Top is Jerry, and so on..." I replied emphatically, "You can call me Gunny!" He then asked, "No I mean, you know, what is your first name?" I repeated, "You can call me Gunny! Then I added, "You can call me Gunnery Sergeant, or it is still correct to call me Sergeant. My first name is of no importance to you, as it is not a name that you or anyone in this shop working for me will ever call me. Is there any questions about how I will be addressed?" He took a step back and replied, "No, Gunny, I think that's clear." And he turned and left.
I have been retired over twenty years now, and these guys still call me Gunny when they see me or correspond with me. It took me several years to overcome the familiarity that had invaded the shop, but I finally got the proper rank structure reinstated there. This was a symptom of the decay that our MOS was beginning to suffer. Not the only one either. Now those who were competing for the same rank would stab you in the back every chance they had. If they could do or say something that put you in a bad light and more importantly, put them in a good light they would do it in triplicate!. When I clearly saw this going on I knew it was time to move on. I did not need to be somebody's stepping stone, hell I did not need anyone help to make me look bad!
My Duty Responsibilities were as follows: While at MCRD PISC, PLT 1002, Co B, 1st RTR was a raw recruit, as they say. I was made a Squad Leader within the first two days. There was just something about those taller fellows not being able to walk in a straight line. By the end of the week I was the guide. This was in my first Platoon. I hurt my foot and had to go to medical Platoon for a month. When I returned I was in a new Platoon, and the SDI made me a squad leader there shortly as well. I was the fill-in for our guide when he was away practicing for the Regimental Field Meet. I actually was the guide more time than he was, but the SDI was one who thought appearance was better than performance and he was a "poster Marine" and I was not really one of those.
NAS Jacksonville, FL Aviation Ordnance School, Class 943B I was a student here to learn how to be an Aviation Ordnance man, a "BB stacker", An Ordie or whatever name you want to apply. I was learning how to load bombs on aircraft. And rockets, and missiles, and guns!  What a job! I loved it. I finished third in my class of nine and got my pick of orders and I chose MCAS Beaufort, SC. The Admin Gunny had a fit. There were orders for NAS Glenview, IL, Dallas, TX, South Weymouth, MA, Jacksonville, FL, MCAS El Toro, CA, and Cherry Point, NC. All of these were for the Marine Aviation Reserve Training Detachments, not the regular duty stations. He asked why I wanted to choose Beaufort. I told him it was closed to my home. He had a fit.
But I got to go to MCAS Beaufort, SC and was attached to H&MS 31 Ordnance. While I was here I was sent to more schools at MCAS Cherry Point, NC. Here I found that I had only learned enough at Jax to be really dangerous. Now I was being taught how it works in the "real" world.. Had some excellent instructors there, GYSGT Hammerstrom was among the best, and the craziest.
By the end of May 1970, I was transferred to "WESTPAC" which only meant that you would go to Okinawa for processing then find out if you were going to Japan or Viet Nam.
I wound up going to Chu Lai and about two weeks later we moved up to Da Nang, RVN. I was assigned to VMA-311 Ordnance and while still in Chu Lai I helped as a crane driver. I would go to our ready revetment and hook up to three bombs. Then I would proceed down the flight line to where the SATS driver would take these and snap them onto the airplane. He was really good and I was really slow. I was new and still scared to death of all this stuff.
When we relocated to Da Nang we had no need for a crane driver as we now used a "pre-load system, where the bombs came already attached to a Multiple Ejector Rack (MER) and the SATS driver would just snap the entire assembly onto the airplane. Sweet!
So I was put working with SGT John Earl Floyd, one of my early career heroes. This man was sharp, and very smart. He was also a great teacher and adviser. Our job was to keep the systems that released the bombs in a functioning state. He knew many tricks to keep them going. I continued to do this until I went home on emergency leave when my mother passed away. I almost did not go but on SGT Floyd's advice I did. That is a whole different story, but not for here, not for now. I'll just say thanks to him for the advice that was golden.
When I returned from emergency leave I was saddened because SGT Floyd had rotated "back to the world," as they say. I was now in charge of the Maintenance Crew as a rookie Corporal.  I had two others working with me. We were tasked with incorporating a change into the aircraft that would allow for the combat evaluation of Laser Guided Bombs. Wow! This is right out of science fiction. A regular bomb that had components attached to it that allowed a spotter with a laser rifle to guide it directly to a target! Wow! With accuracy that was phenomenal! The targets were tanks and each bomb was a direct hit that destroyed each target. A note here: two of the bombs were duds, which mean they did not explode, but because of the accuracy of the hit, it still totally destroyed the tank. AMAZING!
I was later awarded a Navy Achievement Medal for my part in this. That was a surprise!
After this I was assigned to guard Duty with MABS-11 Internal Security. This is normally a 60 day detail. But during this time the brilliant assholes in Washington decided that we did not need out rifle with us 24 hours a day as we had been doing. They had instructed that an armory be constructed at our hangar where our rifles would be stored, 24 hours a day. While we worked that were there. When we left to go to our hooches for sleep they remained in the Armory, three miles away. How stupid is this? We were assured that "if anything happened we would be taken to our rifles. Yeah! Right! For this reason, I requested an extension to stay on guard duty. My NCOIC reluctantly agreed. So there I remained for 118 days. My unit was being moved to Japan and everyone was removed from details except me. I was finally relieved the day before they got on the plane.
Next I spent about four weeks in Iwakuni, Japan. It was interesting, and at that time the Japanese people still liked us, the U. S. That was to change in the very near future.
When my time in WESTPAC was done I was sent to MCAS Yuma, AZ, and initially assigned to VMAT 102 Ordnance. Here I performed pretty much the same duties as I had in VMA-311. Load armament on aircraft, maintain the systems and so forth.
 After about a year, VMA-223 deployed to Yuma. When the deployment was over, they left all of their equipment and tools and airplanes and boarded an aircraft to go back to El Toro. I found out later that the unit was having a severe racial problem that was out of control and when they returned to El Toro everyone was given individual orders and scattered to the winds, including the CO and SGTMAJ!
As part of VMA-223 Ordnance, I was made the embarkation NCO. I was left with a stack of "packing lists" and a collection of wooden embark boxes of various sizes. I was told to inventory each one's contents with the appropriate packing list for each box. I did and there was so much gear that we were supposed to have that was not there it was pathetic. Reports had to be filled out for each missing item and that was fun.
My enlistment came to an end in May of 1973 and I went home. I had a shaky marriage and my goal was to save it.
That did not happen, so I divorced, and re-enlisted on May 1st 1975. Lost all of my rank from SGT back to PVT, but was administratively promoted to PFC because the pay chart did not have any listings for a PVT with over six years' service. Such a deal, huh! I got married again on May 2nd 1975 and left for MCAS El Toro, CA.
Upon arrival there I was assigned to VMA-214 Ordnance after an attempted hijacking of me by the H&MS 13 Admin Chief. The squadron was just beginning to form an Organizational level unit within the Intermediate level unit as well. So when he began to run me on the unit diary I was not happy. I had been in H&MS in Beaufort and did not like it.
So I took matters into my own hands. I went back out into the parking area where I had seen a sign for an O-level unit before. When I found it there was a young Marine out sweeping around a Quonset hut that was the Ordnance Shop. I began asking him questions to see if I knew anyone there. I didn't, but I did not let that deter me. I asked if I could speak to the NCOIC. He took me in and introduced me to MSGT Sam Gaines. I explained to him how I felt about H&MS, and he asked me several questions about my experience. I must have answered the question right because he said, "Come with me."
We went directly to H&MS 13 Admin where he told the Gunny there to un-run from the diary. He tried to tell him that he could not do that, but Top Gaines told him that since  Group Ordnance had not made this assignment he could either figure out how to do it or answer to Major Jewett at Group Ordnance.
So I became part of VMA-214 Blacksheep. I went from PFC to SSGT there from May 1975 to December 1978. I proved myself to the Top and SGT Brown, our Line Chief.
Later on I became the Gun Crew NCO. My crew and I were responsible to keep the guns in good working order. The Top had a standing bet with all of the pilots in the Squadron concerning the guns. If the pilot had a gun mission and the guns fired out or fired every time the trigger was pulled, the pilot owed the shop a case of beer; if the guns failed to fire properly, and the shop owed the pilots a six pack. This was a reasonable wager considering the difference in pay. We never had to buy any beer that I recall. The pilots were willing to agree to this because the guns were one of the few ordnance items that they could see the results of because it was known as "forward firing ordnance". They loved the guns and of course rockets and missiles.
I left the Blacksheep in January 1979 to go to NAS Memphis, TN, NATTC. My orders there were sending me to be a student in the AOC7 class. This is what used to be called "B" school. I had wanted to go to this school to further my knowledge in my occupational field of ordnance. But before I went I had a little concern about my ability to pass the school. I went visit one of my mentors at El Toro,  MSGT John Sergeant. We talked about my concerns and he eased my mind totally. Then as we continued, he said, "Hardin, do you know what the best two duty stations in the Corps are?" Wow! I was about to be let in on a huge secret in the Marine Corps, I was thinking. I replied, "No Top, what are they?" He said, "The one you just left, and the one you are going to." Suddenly I thought I had been caught in a huge joke. But then he continued, "You take with you all of the memories of the fun times and the friendship that you had at the station that you are leaving. And you have all of the new experiences, friendships and fun times that you will experience at the new duty station." So I had in fact been given a real jewel in the form of honest wisdom from the Top. I remembered that every time I got a new set of orders and got to experience the truth of that wisdom every time.
On leaving NAS Millington, I requested and received orders to MCAS Cherry Point, NC. Before checking in officially, I got dressed in my Alpha uniform and went to visit the Second Marine Air Wing Ordnance Chief and Officer, MGYSGT Rice and CAPT Curtis. I had never met them and they did not know me. I introduced myself and we began to chat about things in general. I finally told them the purpose of my visit was that I was requesting to be considered for an instructor position. CAPT Curtis asked me what experience I had as an instructor. I told him that I had been teaching for most of the last nine years in the shop and on the flight line. MGYSGT Rice got on the phone and talked with someone at AWTU-2 and found that they were in fact in need of an instructor. CAPT Curtis said that he would let me fill that position, and I that I better not disappoint him. I promised that I would not, and that's how I became assigned to MWHS-2, AWTU-2, as a Conventional Ordnance Instructor. I loved this position and found that as the instructor I learned more than my students.
My duties here were to teach conventional ordnance weapons classes for all of the different aircraft that the Marine Corps had. I later found that I had to develop the lessons for the new aircraft and/or weapons that we got as well. Additionally I became the resident expert for the Explosive Driver's Safety course that we gave. I was one of a handful of people in North Carolina authorized to certify military and civilians as explosive drivers aboard the base and on public highways.
MCB Quantico, VA, Student, Marine Corps Staff Non-Commissioned Officer School
NAS Norfolk, VA Basic Instructor School
MCRD San Diego, CA, Student Recruiters School;
RS Harrisburg, PA, RSS Stroudsburg, PA Recruiter/NCOIC;
MCAS Cherry Point, NC, VMA (aw) 224 Ordnance NCOIC,
H&HS Second Marine Air Wing Ground Safety Program Manager
NAS Kingsville, TX Motorcycle Safety Foundation Instructor School
MWHS-2, AWTU-2, Conventional; Ordnance NCOIC/Instructor
Fleet Marine Reserve.
IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TO YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY.
I participated in combat in the Republic of Vietnam. I felt as if my job really had a meaning. I was not aware of any particular "operation" that was ongoing, because our superiors at the time did not bother us with those details for the most part. We just worked
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| My Vietnam Nam Specific Medals |
12 hours a day doing our jobs as we were expected to do. They gave us a flight schedule and we loaded the airplanes with the ordnance and kept them working and continued to march. Toward the end of my tour in RVN and the end of the war for most of us, we did get a new CO that did let us know what was going on. LTCOL J. T. Hagen would give the troops a brief each week and tell us what we had accomplished and how it affected the progress of the war.
That really meant a lot to me and others. It made us feel as if our efforts were not in vain. I became aware of the politics of war on two occasions while in RVN. One was when MAG-11 and several tenet units of MAG-11, VMA-311 for one, was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for flying many unscheduled missions into "Happy Valley" one day in support of a Search & Rescue mission for a downed USAF Pilot that had flown out of Da Nang and got shot down. He may have been a General, not sure. But he presented the award to the MAG-11 C. O. who accepted it in a really big formation. The next day he issued a statement that no record book entry would be made and we were not authorized to wear that ribbon, ever.
The other occurred while I was on guard duty with MABS-11. As a result of an accidental discharge of a weapon that inflicted injury to the "dischargee". One of the brilliant ones in Japan at 1st MAW HQ decided that we should not have a loaded magazine in our weapons since this was happening too often. (Really? In RVN, in a combat zone, on guard duty! And OBTW, once for this type of thing is too often.) These geniuses had it all figured out. We would replace our 30 round magazines with a "wooden block that would be painted Red or Yellow so as to be clearly visible from 100-yards away" and this would preclude any more such accidents.
They never considered the humidity of that country and the effect it had on the blocks of pine wood. Yep, put it in, wait five minutes and it swells and you cannot get it out, easily. So, later on if you ever came across a bunch of red or yellow painted magazines, I don't have a clue where they came from! Politics does not belong on the battlefield with men of honor! Keep it in Washington where it belongs with all the liars and cheats.
OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH ONE WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
Pick any of them. I enjoyed them all. I could occupy most of the night telling you a story or three about each one of them. Some would make you laugh, some would make you cry, some would make wonder a bit, and some would make you scoot away a
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| Providing Assistance to Flyers |
bit so you don't get too close.
I mean you have all of the memories of the place you are leaving, and I find that you usually leave the bad ones there to die and take the good with you to nurture and keep looking back on with fondness. Then you have the anticipation of all of the new things that you will do at the new place, new people, new memories to make and keep, and new experiences. So thanks, Top! It took a while but your wisdom finally penetrated the hard head!
They are listed below: MCRD Parris Island, SC; MCB Camp Lejeune/Camp Geiger, NC; NAS Jacksonville, FL; MCAS Beaufort, SC; Chu Lai Air Base, Republic of Vietnam; Da Nang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam; NAS Cubi Point, Philippine Islands; MCAS Iwakuni, Japan; MCAS Yuma, AZ; NAS Fallon, NV; MCAS El Toro, CA; MCB Camp Pendleton, CA; Clark AFB, PI; Korean Naval Port Pohang, Korea; Yechon Air Base, Korea; NAS Millington, TN; MCAS Cherry Point, NC; MCRD San Diego, CA (Recruiting School); RS Harrisburg, PA; RSS Stroudsburg, PA; USS John Kennedy; USS Dwight Eisenhower; NAS El Centro, CA; Air Force Auxiliary Field Indian Springs, CA; HMRNAS Albatross, Nowra, New South Wales, Australia; HMRAFB Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
FROM YOUR ENTIRE SERVICE, INCLUDING COMBAT, DESCRIBE THE PERSONAL MEMORIES WHICH HAVE IMPACTED YOU MOST?
The most outstanding memories I have are those times when I was teaching others to better themselves, both at the jobs they were assigned, and in life itself. As an instructor, my task was to teach, but I learned more in that job from my students than I could have ever taught them.
WHAT ACHIEVEMENT(S) ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER? IF YOU RECEIVED ANY MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS OR QUALIFICATION BADGES FOR SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT OR VALOR, PLEASE DESCRIBE HOW THESE WERE EARNED.
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| Navy Achievement Medal with Combat 'V' |
I was awarded a Navy Achievement Medal while serving in Vietnam. It came with the combat "V" device. When this award was presented to me, I was not sure they had the right person when they read the citation. I had done what they said, but thought I was only doing my job. It wasn't until later that I realized that I (and those who assisted me) had accomplished an enormous amount of maintenance in an extremely short time. As a result of this my unit was able to complete the combat evaluation of the first generation of Laser Guided bombs in less time than had been expected. We were able to accomplish this only because of the foresight of my predecessor, John Earl Floyd. He had not only taught me the skills needed to do this, but he had the opportunity to salvage parts from a crashed aircraft that we were able to repair and use to reduce our maintenance time greatly.
OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR ANY OTHER MEMORABILIA, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH ARE THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
I received seven Good Conduct Awards during my service. I considered each one of them to be very special. Some would refer to these awards as the "ain't got caught yet" ribbon. That is as disdainful as when someone refers to the National Defense ribbon as the "gedunk ribbon". I always felt honored when I received these awards, but I also felt as if it was my duty to 'earn' them with honorable service and integrity. I was taught that the definition of integrity was not just doing the right thing when you KNEW others was looking, but to do the right thing when you KNEW that there was NO POSSIBLE WAY anybody could EVER see what you were doing! I still live my life by that standard, it's a good one.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
The person who had the biggest impact on me was MSGT Sam Gaines. When I returned to the Corps after being away for two years, God was looking out after me when he placed me in the charge of this great man. I was almost shanghaied by H&MS 13 while
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| Home Sweet Home..Danang AB |
I was checking in to the group in 1975. I had been in an H&MS unit before and was bored to tears and did not want anything to do with it again. I was guided to Top Gaines and asked him about this and he immediately straightened out the situation and I was assigned to his shop.
This man taught his troops to have pride in themselves, their shop, their squadron, and to do the best they could all of the time. Yeah, it's back to that integrity thing again. He always expected and received the best you had to give. You always wanted to give him your best because you knew he would reward you for it. He helped me to regain some of the rank I had lost for being out of the Marines for two years. It was not 'given' back to me though, I had to earn it. He provided me with the correct guidance I would need to achieve it. I could have landed in a lot of people's shop that would not have cared a bit, but he did and that meant a lot to me.
CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
I was in VMA-214 deployed to Iwakuni, Japan in 1977-78. We had a young Avionics lad who was a good yarn spinner and practical joker. He was so good at storytelling that everyone called him "Bull----ting Sam" He was a good kid from Texas that had learned that EVEN the
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| Australian Rules Baseball...Cricket |
stories that Texans told had to be bigger. And he was good at it! When we first arrived there I was assigned to the crew to clean up the barracks we were to use.
It was one of the WWII vintage barracks across from the Main Side chow hall right next to the enlisted club. As we went through the barracks there were many lockers that still had many pictures still taped inside. Of course they were the ones of women wearing "nuttin' but a smile!" as they say. One of the girlie mags was running a series of pix they titled "The Girl Next Door". I saw one that was just about the right size for a "wallet" photo and I came up with an idea. I found some laminating plastic and white card stock to put behind it to cover the text on the back. When I got done with it, it looked like a real photo that had been laminated. I placed it in my wallet and waited.
Weeks later Sam, some others and I were playing pool in the barracks. As happens from time to time the talk became that of girls. Next thing you know everyone is whippin' out pictures of wives and girlfriends to show. I pulled out this "picture" and gave it to Sam. He got a bit flustered and said, "Hey, did you mean to show me this?" I laughed and said, "Yes, it's okay. That's a picture of my sister." He just about died from shock. He asked why are you carrying a nude picture of your sister? I told him that she had been in the Air Force and knew how "lonely" guys get when they are away. So she sent me this to share with my friends as a reminder of what was waiting back home to help keep them from straying.
After the shock of it all wore away, he made a comment about how considerate she was to do that. For days after that he would hunt me down to bring someone to "share" the picture. He finally brought someone by that was a big fan of the mag and especially that series in the mag. He recognized the picture and told Sam that he had the same picture in his locker. After Sam was finally convinced that I had rooked him, he was mad as heck. He got over it after about a week or so. He was real good at being on the receiving end of a prank. He told me that he would never believe another word that I said. We all had a good laugh over this 'cause somebody got the best of Bull----ting Sam!
WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
Upon retirement I moved into the logistics analyst field. I began in a contract job in Kuwait supporting the Kuwait Air Force as their Armament Adviser, and then on contracts with the Navy/Marine team supporting several different aircraft over a span of 18 years. I am currently in between contracts, which is a nice way to say I am unemployed, and looking.
WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
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| VFW Member at Large |
I have been a member of the VFW. But I just didn't really fit in with that crowd. The one I was associated with had a membership that mostly wanted to come in every day and drink and tell their stories. Didn't care to drink and their story telling skills needed work! Now I am a member of this organization, the Together we Served. I can come here and find my old buds, and rejoin them in some of the memories. I really love this site!
IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER?
My time in the Marines has taught me many things about myself and life. I have learned that the only limitations that one really has are those limitations that they place upon themselves. I never believed that I could run three miles, but was told that I could, and trained
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| Serve Proudly and Stay the Course |
how to do it and then convinced that I could and then made to do something that I would have never had the courage to try on my own, I found that I COULD do it. It was the same with many other things that I have accomplished in my career and my life. Except now, I am the one that pushes me, because I learned that I can do pretty much anything that I set out to do if I commit to it. I never would have thought that I could do well in college, but I did, once I really wanted to do it. 3.8+ GPA, and I'm not bragging, just offering proof.
My teachers from school would be shocked and proud. They kept telling me I could do better, but they failed to convince ME that I could. They were right! Something else that I have become aware of that I learned in the Marines has to do with marching. Everyone knows that when we march, the reason WE look so good as we march, compared to the other branches of the military, is because we have been taught to do it to the same standard. In that I mean we all are taught to take that thirty inch step! Why, those really tall guys could take steps closer to a yard or more. So this length was set as the standard so that everyone, even the shorter guys can keep their cover and alignment without having to run in the back. That thirty inch step has served me well throughout my life. Now if I need to measure an area, I just step it off at what has become my normal step. I don't take them big ol' giant steps like some do to estimate a yard. I just count my steps and multiply by two and one half and AI will be closer to the correct distance every time!
BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE MARINE CORPS?
Stay strong and practice your faith with great enthusiasm. There will be some times when all you may have to cling to is your faith and belief in God. He will be with you right into the gates of hell if that is where your mission leads you. And there
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| Enjoying my Retirement(s). |
will be times when you feel that you are there, and you feel alone, please know that you are not alone, He is with you always. And oh yeah, keep your head down! Come back in one piece! Remember a quote that was engraved on a Zippo cigarette lighter I found in Viet Nam.
I have been told that it was said by McArthur, not sure though. (I have made some abbreviations, but you'll get it still.) Goes like this: "I didn't come to this place to die for my country. I came here to make that other SOB die for his!" A footnote here: When you got your Zippos engraved, they charged you per letter. Someone spent a big chunk of their payday on this lighter, and then lost it. Bummer for them.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
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| TWS and the US MARINES |
I have reconnected with over one hundred Marines that I have served with throughout the years I served. It has given me an opportunity to reflect with them on the time we spent together. I have also met others through the site, as well. If you have not figured it out, I know most have, Marines like to come together to chew the fat every now and then. Some are better at chewing and others are good listeners. No matter which shoe fits, this is the place to come to and try a few on. Tell your friends about it. I don't get paid to say that, it is just how I feel.
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TWS VOICES
TWS Voices are the personal stories of men and women who served in the US Military and convey how serving their Country has made a positive impact on their lives. If you would like to participate in a future edition of Voices, or know someone who might be interested, please contact TWS Voices HERE.
This edition of Marines Voices was supported by:
Marines.Togetherweserved.com
Semper Fidelis - Always Faithful. It's more than a motto. It's a way of life. TogetherWeServed.com is a unique, feature-rich resource helping Marines stay faithful to the Brotherhood of the Corps. This is a place where Marines can re-connect with lost Brothers, share memories and tell their Marine story.
To join Marines.Togetherweserved.com, please click HERE.
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