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Current Service Status
USMC Retired
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Current/Last Rank
Master Gunnery Sergeant
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Current/Last Primary MOS
2591-Operational Communication Chief
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Current/Last MOSGroup
Communications
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Previously Held MOS
0849-Shore Fire Control Partyman
2531-Field Radio Operator
8511-Drill Instructor
2537-Radio Chief
2581-Radio Frequency Management Technician
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Primary Unit
1989-1993, 2591, MCAS Cherry Point, NC
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Service Years
1967 - 1993
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Official/Unofficial USMC Certificates
Arctic Circle Certificate (Bluenose)
Cold War Certificate
Order of the Ditch
Order of the Rock Certificate
Suez Canal Certificate
Persian Excursion
Marine Combat Water Survival Qualified (WSQ)
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What are you doing now:
I have retired again and working on the house. Elected to Alleghany County, NC Board of Commissioners in 2016 and re-elected 2020.
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1968, Platoon Leaders Class (Quantico, VA), 2
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1971, Boot Camp (Parris Island, SC), H/345
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1976, Boot Camp (Parris Island, SC), F/263
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1976, Boot Camp (Parris Island, SC), F/2000 (Instructor)
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1977, Boot Camp (Parris Island, SC), F/2034 (Instructor)
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1977, Boot Camp (Parris Island, SC), F/2066
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1977, Boot Camp (Parris Island, SC), F/2097 (Instructor)
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1978, Boot Camp (Parris Island, SC), 2-78 (Instructor)
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1978, Boot Camp (Parris Island, SC), 3-78 (Instructor)
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1978, Boot Camp (Parris Island, SC), 4-78 (Instructor)
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1978, Boot Camp (Parris Island, SC), 5-78 (Instructor)
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1978, Boot Camp (Parris Island, SC), 6-78 (Instructor)
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1979, Boot Camp (Parris Island, SC), 3-79 (Instructor)
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1979, Boot Camp (Parris Island, SC), 1-79 (Instructor)
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1979, Boot Camp (Parris Island, SC), 2-79 (Instructor)
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1967-1971, Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC)
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1972-1974, 2531, 1st Bn, 10th Marines (1/10)
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1972-1974, 0849, Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC)
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1975-1976, 2531, HQ Btry, 12th Marines
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1975-1976, 2531, 3rd Marine Division
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1975-1976, 2531, 2nd Bn, 12th Marines (2/12)
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1975-1976, 2nd Bn, 12th Marines (2/12)
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1975-1976, 2nd Bn, 12th Marines (2/12)
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1975-1976, 2537, HQ Btry, 12th Marines
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1976-1976, 2531, 2nd Bn, 12th Marines (2/12)
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1976-1978, 8511, 2nd Recruit Training Bn (Cadre/Instructor), RTR (Cadre) MCRD Parris Island
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1976-1979, 8511, Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC)
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1978-1979, 8511, HQ Co, H&S Bn, MRCD, Parris Island, SC
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1978-1979, 8511, Drill Instructor School (Staff/Instructor) Spt Bn, Recruit Tng Regt, MRCD, San Diego, CA
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1979-1980, 2537, Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC)
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1980-1981, 2591, H&MS 14, MAG-14
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1981-1982, 2591, 3rd Bn, 12th Marines (3/12)
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1981-1982, 2591, HQ Btry, 2nd Bn, 12th Marines (2/12)
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1982-1983, 2581, MWHS-2, 2nd MAW
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1982-1983, 2591, MACG-28, 2nd MAW
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1983-1985, 2591, MASS-1
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1985-1987, 2591, MWCS-28
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1986-1987, 2581, MWHS-1, 1st MAW
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1986-1987, 2591, 1st MAW
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1989-1993, 2591, MCAS Cherry Point, NC
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Reflections on MGySgt Irwin's
US Marine Corps Service
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PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE MARINE CORPS.
The WWII veterans in my home town talking about their time in the military.
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WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
The USMC wanted me to be a 28XX. I wanted to be an 0849 and go to Vietnam. Flunked out of school and was sent to Camp LeJeune as an OJT 2531. Stayed in Communications and loved it. I had second thoughts when I got to Camp LeJeune. The first Friday formation I noticed that every communicator with a Viet Nam Service Ribbon also had at least one Purple Heart. We had one Sgt. that had 6 purple hearts, a Viet Nam Service Ribbon but no campaign ribbon. If you were wounded three times you were ordered out of country, to get the campaign ribbon you needed six months in country and he never made it to six months!!!!!! Sad thing he had lost a brother and was bent on payback. Crazy Marine!!!!!!!!!!
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IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
I received a Combat Action Ribbon for being a sitting target on a WWII Liberty Ship, USNS Truman Kimbro, anchored at the mouth of the Saigon River during Operation Frequent Wind. They shot at us with captured .50 cal Maw Deuces, from the radar station on the hill, and we shot back with M-16s, in frustration. They were over 2000 yards away, but we were swing at anchor and gave them a moving target.
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OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
South Korea. In November 1981 the North Koreans called up their reserves and massed on the DMZ for the first time. It looked like they were coming across so a Bn of infantry and a Bn of artillery were sent to reinforce. We sat up at a little village of Un Chon Nee. At that time there was a dawn to dusk curfew in the area. The S. Koreans had a tendency to shoot first and ask question latter due to instances of the NK's infiltrating through tunnels and attacking. The town's people really took a liking to us when they found out we were Marines!!! They didn't have a high regard for the US Army. We lived in tents and in the field for 3 months.
At that time our equipment had not been overhauled or replaced since Vietnam. I was in HQ Btry 2Bn12thMar. We had guns that had been in in Okinawan Invasion, Korean War and Vietnam. Tubes were so worn we couldn't register them with any certainty. To give you an example how bad the equipment was. When we mounted out we stripped all the rolling stock in 12th Marines to get enough to get to Korea!! I would have normally had 3 21/2 tons with trailers to move my comm equipment. I got one. We loaded it until the bed was on the axle. I had the driver check the oil, which he did by reaching through the hole rusted in the hood. I gave him his trip ticket by handing it through the hole rusted in the door frame.
We did a hell of a job once we got in country and the support we got from the people was heart warming after my Vietnam experience!!!!! Loved the kids!!!
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FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
Taking aboard refugees after Saigon fell is one of the bad ones.
By far the most interesting was being chosen as a member of the operating staff for "Operation Raleigh". Operation Raleigh is sponsored by His Royal Highness Prince Charles, Prince of Wales. It conducts scientific and community self help projects in countries around the world. In 1984 the project started and lasted for 4 years. I led the Chile Chico patrol in Chile. My staff was comprised of a SFC Enricke Castro USA Green Beret, and two females, one a English Sister, (Nurse) and a horsewoman from New Zealand. Our "Venture's" were volunteers that had to pay their way. We had seventeen from England, Ireland, Japan, Chile and Scotland.
Why so special. Only six Marines were chosen to support "Operation Raleigh". My Letter of Appreciation, from The Secretary of Defense, Casper Weinberger, was instrumental in my promotion to MGySgt after 161/2 years of active duty!
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WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
| Certificate of Commendation for Frequent Wind |
None. Did have two Navy Achievements ripped up in my face. I couldn't keep my opinions to myself. Received a Certificate of Commendation from Frequent Wind. This picture is of the presentation. Today it would have been a Navy Commendation!
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OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
Drill Instructor Hat. I never saw myself as being DI material. My Lead Wings. Jumping out of a perfectly good airplane was fun!!
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WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
MSgt Cisco Savagi. (Spelling) approximate. Ran the armory at 1stBn 10th Marines. Veteran of a combat assault with all 6 divisions in WWII. Service in Korean War, Lebanon Landing (56) Dominican Republic, Cuban Missile Crisis and tours in Vietnam. When he spoke EVERYONE listened. I would open the Comm Shack at 0630 every morning and get the coffee going. MSgt Savagi would come in for a cup and give me advice etc. I miss that now and realize that I was getting a lesson in leadership from a master. His quiet counsel influenced and help me immensely in my career.
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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?
During the evacuation of Vietnam, we on loaded 4755 refugees in two days and nights. We were on our feet 20 hours a day, only 42 of us, then. Every refugee had to be searched and then we got underway. We knew that some weapons had to have gotten through. | |
Also, I knew we had infiltrators aboard. Late one evening, as Sgt of the Guard, I noticed that one of my sentries was missing. I just knew he had gotten his throat cut by the VC or NVA on board. Went looking for him and saw the barrel of an M-16 sticking outside of a hatch on the deck level a mid-ship. Now this was a WWII Liberty Ship, USNS Truman Kimbro, freighter, with everything mid-ship. Knowing he was asleep I grabbed the barrel and jerked it as hard as I could. What I didn't know was that he had given a "young lady refugee" a C -Rat for oral sex. He grabbed the rifle, when I tried to jerk it out of his hand, she was knocked back onto the bulkhead, banging her head and he got circumcised for the second time in his life!!!! I went from wanting to kill him to laughing my ass off in 0.5ms.
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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?
I did a lot of things to get by, but now I teach the new communications equipment to active and reserve Marines. A job I love. On Sept 30, 2011 I will retire. Now it's time to do a little hunting, substitute teaching and things around the house. Living with my wife full time should be fun.
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WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
DAV, MCA, MCL I am a former Life Member of the VFW. I resigned my membership when the local VFW failed to attend the funeral of a former Marine, because the Honor Guard was provided by the USMC and they couldn't do it.
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IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
I do today, because there may not be a tomorrow.
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BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE MARINE CORPS?
Keep your head down and shoulder to the wheel.
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IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
| TWS and the US MARINES |
I have been contacted by former recruits I trained and found old friends. *
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