Clifford, Wilfred, Capt

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE MARINE CORPS.
My brother was a Marine; he served in WWII and was recalled to active duty during the Korean War. Additionally, 3 of my uncles also served during WWII, and all saw serious action. When I was about 13 or 14, I read a book about the Iwo Jima campaign, and while it brought tears to my eyes, I probably wasn't crying, but, anyway, I knew that I wanted to be around men like that.

Because of my family situation, with a single mother with three kids, I knew that I would serve at least 20 years to retirement even before I enlisted. I was a depression-era kid, and my future looked bleak. Somehow, I always desired to attend college, and if I didn't serve the 20, I would have the Korean War GI Bill to help me. (Which it didn't, as I have enumerated under the college questionnaire).

However, the Marine Corps' in-service Tuition Assistance Program, the Vietnam GI Bill, and my retirement annuity enabled me to graduate from East Carolina University with a BSBA (Management) while supporting a wife and four children.

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?
During my enlisted service (1953-1965), I was assigned to units within the FMF at Camp Lejeune: 8thEngSptCo, SptBn, and 2dBn, 6hMar; MCBase at CLNC; Marine Barrack, Hingham, MA, and Marine Barracks, Portsmouth, NH; MCSC, Albany, Ga, and the 1stMAW, Iwakuni, Japan, not quite in that order. I was initially trained as a supply clerk. As promotions came along, I was assigned (and welcomed) various additional and collateral duties: Guard NCO at Marine Barracks, section leader, platoon sergeant, and instructor of general military subjects at the unit level. After reenlisting, I realized the seriousness of my career choice and began enrolling in MCI courses, concentrating on infantry tactics and weapons subjects; this proved to be a career-long invaluable asset.

I applied and was recommended for three different commissioning programs and interviewed for the same, but eyesight exams stopped the process cold. Then in June 1965, my 1stSgt urged me to apply for the 7th Warrant Officer Candidate Course; I was almost 31 years old and had close to 12 years of service, along with a wife and, at the time, two children, and was not particularly overjoyed at the prospect of getting all excited only to again fail for selection. After several conversations with my lstSgt I decided to go ahead with the application; as I suspected, when I got to sickbay, the Navy Chief conducting the eye exam actually laughed at me. The resident Navy Doctor overheard him, came out of his office and inquired what the laughter was about. The Chief explained, and the Doctor was not amused. He instructed the Chief to prepare a medical waiver, sign it, and forward it to BuMed (Bureau of Medicine and Surgery). About a month later, my 1stSgt asked me if I had told my wife. I hadn't, and he indicated that she might be disappointed in me not sharing that information. So, I sat her down at our kitchen table, explained, and she responded with the brightest of smiles and said, "Oh, don't worry, Honey, you won't make it."

Hmm, well, of course, she was remembering all of the other times I had been rejected!

I love telling that story.

Anyway, from the day I signed that application, I embarked on a self-designed physical fitness program that included: daily lunch hour "daily dozen" exercises found in an Army field training manual; early daily 5 miles run with full gear, double weighted pack, two full water canteens and addressograph weighted dummy rifle. The run route led from Tarawa Terrace #2 over to Camp Knox Trailer Park and back, and I was stopped a few times by roving MP'S, checking on a guy "running around with full pack and rifle," but after a while, they became accustomed to seeing me and never bothered me again. I also interviewed many officers that seemed inclined to share their OCS experiences and took notes. On 10 Nov 65, the Navy Times published the names of the 323 Marines selected from 2428 applicants, and my name was among them. You can not imagine the feeling unless you were in a similar situation; all that dedication and hard work recognized, and yet, even more, was going to be demanded, but I knew that going in.

OCS was not a cakewalk; 81 candidates dropped or were involuntarily dropped out of the program; you really had to have a fire in your belly. Anyway, upon successfully completing the course in Feb 66, we were appointed to the grade of Warrant Officer and then embarked upon a course of instruction at The Basic School.

The one course that you could not fail was Land Navigation; if you failed, you were dropped from the program, and among other things, it was a definite physical challenge with a time limit. As for that particular experience, we were gathered in a classroom and provided with a map and compass, instructed to plot our course, and given TWO HOURS to accomplish the task. I sat there for two hours, experiencing a COMPLETE BRAIN MALFUNCTION, unable to plot even one leg of the multiple requirements. At the end of the two hours, we were loaded aboard "cattle" cars and taken to the jump-off point; during that ride, I just sat still and did not communicate my dilemma to anyone; upon reaching the drop off point, I leaped out of the cattle car and sat down nearby, and began furiously working out my route. Our Company Commander approached me, and he inquired as to just what the f....was I doing, so I explained...he just shook his head and said something like, ": It's all over for you." Anyway, after about 15 or 20 minutes, I completed what I had been "given" two hours to perform and ran the entire course, earning a 90; that LAST pole with the black and white number sign is still a vivid memory... the only problem was, there were two of them almost side by side....and I choose the wrong one, or would have wound up with a 100! Reading this, you might think it was funny...it was anything but that.

Upon graduating from the Basic School, May 66, and due to the progression of the Vietnam War, we were commissioned Second Lieutenants (temporary), and all subsequent promotions were to be temporary, with reversion to our permanent rank of Warrant Officer dictated by the "needs of the service." Many were picked up for permanent status depending on the requirements for their MOS. I forgot to mention MOSs were assigned upon the completion of OCS; some 03's were assigned Cook and Baker MOS; unreal. We were informed that we could resign if we didn't like the assigned MOS. Oh well. I received MOS 3202, with which I was totally unfamiliar and determined my fate. Reverted to CWO-2 from Captain 1 Nov 70. Many went on to Major, LtCol, and 3 to Colonel!!! Truly some very amazing Marines.

I eventually retired as a CWO3, but immediately upon retirement, I was re-assigned as a Captain. Usually, in order to retire at 20, you need ten years of commissioned service; I had eight years commissioned. However, Warrant Officers are excepted from that mandate. A bit of history about temporary officer promotions: I knew several WWII and many Korean War individuals that had been commissioned to temporary officer status, and after the end of hostilities, they were reverted back to their original rank at commissioning, while their contemporary enlisted Marines were advanced in their enlisted status, so to avoid that problem during the Vietnam War, enlisted Marines that were commissioned (temporary) were assigned an enlisted "buddy," and when the temporary officer was reverted, he was reverted to the normal rank progression as his "buddy," so in lieu of moving back to the rank at commissioning, he moved forward. I knew two Marines that had been promoted to Captain three times and several twice.

Officer assignments were: SupplyO, H&S Bn., MCS, Quantico, Va; Property DisposalO; ReceiptsO and BnLegalO, and PltnCmdr, Reaction Force, SupBn., Force Logistics Command, RVN; SupO, 2d Air & Naval Gunfire Liaison Co., CLNC; SupO, Camp Garcia, PR; Commanding Officer, GenSupMaintCo; SupO, MaintBn., S-4 O, MaintBn; ForTrps, FMFLant CLNC.

Retired 1 Nov 73; recalled to Active Duty Jan 88 for two weeks to work on a special project, then back to civilian life.

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?
Nothing worthy of mention.

I served as Platoon Commander, Reaction Force, Camp Books, RVN. Duties consisted of repelling attempts to infiltrate, harassing and interdicting hostile activity, and penetration of the base camp perimeter. There were no serious attempts of that nature while I was there (July 1967 - Aug 1968) except during TET 1968, an NVA Regiment had closed to about 1000 meters of the camp but was repelled by Marine and ARVAN infantry plus the Provisional Rifle Platoon of Camp Books, in addition to aircraft from nearby Danang Air Base. The planes would sort, drop bombs and napalm, return to base and be back up within minutes. It was an amazing sight.

Additionally, as the Battalion Legal Officer, my duties consisted of traveling in the I Corps area in order to deliver Solitium payments to Vietnamese family survivors for "wrongful death" incidents. To accomplish this task, I was provided with a jeep and driver, who was a Kit Carson Scout, the type that Chieu Hoi-ed from being a VC and submitting to RVN Government control. We traveled within the I Corps area to village-level compounds, and I would make a short speech to the family members (through the KC Scout) and then deliver the piasters. Typically the huts contained screenless windows, and the villagers would crowd around the hut while we were inside and listen and watch everything that went on. Typically the widow or mother of the deceased would act out, tear her clothes, exposing her body, cryingly vocalize things that I did not understand; later, she would go to a wooden trunk and remove framed photographs of the deceased. After several of these tasks, it began to unnerve me, the sadness and grief exposed in such a raw manner.

Then, of course, losing a family member decreased the capability of obtaining sustenance, especially if the deceased was instrumental in supporting the family. Later, as I approached my final week in-country, the Bn XO complimented me on my exemplary cool behavior during these visits, as explained to him by the KC Scout, and he further indicated to do so with such a large reward on your head was complimentary. I was stunned; WHAT REWARD? I was told a 25,000 piaster reward was available for MY capture. I was stunned. Oh well.

DID YOU ENCOUNTER ANY SITUATION DURING YOUR MILITARY SERVICE WHEN YOU BELIEVED THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY YOU MIGHT NOT SURVIVE? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME.
With a periodic rocket attack by hostile forces, one's sphincter muscle got a good workout. Several of my platoon members received wounds; five of my Marines were wounded three times within the first two months of their arrival.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
Marine Barracks, U.S. Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, NH; the leadership demonstrated by the entire Chain of Command made a lasting impression on me. I had just reenlisted for the first time, and the leadership of these Marines set me on a course that was to determine my progress as a professional Marine. These Marines were combat veterans of WWII and Korea, and they set the tone and demands for us to follow. Not in the typical 'hard-assed' manner, but as older brothers and uncles, if you will. They did not accept half-hearted or ineffective efforts but motivated and coached us to reach down and PERFORM.

SupO, 2ndANGLICO; SupO, Camp Garcia, Puerto Rico, SupO, MaintBn; and S-4, MaintBn; these were among the most challenging duty assignments of my career. I will not go into detail, but the supply accounts were an abomination that reflected little or no attention to detail. Their condition should have warranted adverse relief from the officers involved. The only problem was that they had ALL been released from active duty before my arrival. The capability of MaintBn to even move from the main side to Onslow Beach was at best problematical, at worst, lucky to get across the street. Pulling resources together, we formed formidable teams that squared away ALL deficiencies to be awarded NOTEWORTHY in all areas during subsequent CG and IG inspections. I loved those guys.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
Introduction to Boot Camp! To this day, I still remember the name of my DI, Sgt Meyers, but he wasn't exactly an inspiration.

Additionally, the first time I was issued live ammunition, and as a team leader in a manhunt for 3 escaped and armed prisoners from a brig at MCSC, Albany, Ga, with orders to shoot on sight.

Then there was the U-shaped battalion formation of 2dBn., 6th Marines, issuing a Marine a BCD then the command, "ABOUT, FACE," as he was marched off the parade field,

Not to be forgotten was the TAD with 2d Bn, 8th Marines to GTMO with 2dANGLICO. It was HOT.

Not to be forgotten was my wife pinning me with the bars of a Second Lieutenant of the United States Marine Corps.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
Earning promotions: to Sergeant; 2nd Lieutenant; Captain. Being in a position to guide, influence, and motivate junior Marines in their pursuit of Marine Corps professionalism no matter their rank. Being able to raise a solid family of four with the indispensable support of my wife covering for me while deployed. The conditions in the era from the mid-1960s to through the 1970s were something that one can only pray is never repeated ever again.

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?
After fifteen (15) years, finally able to break through high Sharpshooter and earned the Rifle Expert shooting badge, with two subsequent awards.

And as is fondly said by those who know, the four awards of the Good Conduct Medal, for "undetected crime." Many regulations were bent along the way. However, I personally DO NOT recommend that as a course of action. The Marine Corps has devolved to a ZERO DEFECTS mentality. Most of the others were "I was their awards."

Then there is that Commanding General's Letter of Commendation on fancy parchment, but I coveted the Navy Achievement Medal; however, the CG thought otherwise. You can't wear parchment! :(

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
Major (then Captain) Warner H. FELLOWS, a Mustang, from Marine Barracks, U. S. Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, NH, 1957-1959. He set the pace and example of what a Marine Corps Officer is all about.

He worked hard and smart, gave you your assignments, and trusted you to complete them without micromanaging, but was always aware of what you were doing or any difficulties you might encounter.

I remember putting his green uniform blouse on when he was recently promoted to Captain (and out of the office!!), never imagining that one day I, too, would earn those 'rail road' tracks ten years later. I later met him at Quantico, VA, in 1966 after completing The Basic School course and being retained at Quantico for duty. We enjoyed a noon-time liquid lunch in Quantico Town and rehashed old memories.

LIST THE NAMES OF OLD FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH, AT WHICH LOCATIONS, AND RECOUNT WHAT YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT THEM. INDICATE THOSE YOU ARE ALREADY IN TOUCH WITH AND THOSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH.
GySgt William E. JOHNSON USMC (Ret) and deceased; we met as Sergeants (E4) while serving with the 2nd Bn., 6th Marines while in "controlled input," 1959 - 1962, and became career + life, long friends, our families were as one. We could always depend on one another no matter the occasion.

Then there was GySgt Robert Dalton, my bunkmate at the Warrant Officer Candidate Course at OCS, where I learned that he had enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of 14 in 1948 under his older brother's name, made the landing at Inchon, fought through Seoul, and on into the hills of the Chosin Reservoir, returned to CONUS at 16 to become a Drill Instructor at Parris Island, SC. He was programmed to become the CO of 2ndANGLICO (Air and Naval Gunfire Liaison Co. one of my old outfits, went to Ft Benning for jump school, on his 4th jump his parachute Roman Candled, then the Reserve did not completely deploy, shroud lines entangling and he went in from 1400 feet, survived, avoided being medically surveyed by the sheer determination of will, and went on to serve a total of 31 1/2 years retiring as a grunt Lieutenant Colonel. He served two tours in Vietnam, platoon commander, simultaneously as a line company commander and CO of a CAP platoon, among other grand and glorious assignments. He is one of the most humble individuals I have ever met. Oh, when he retired, he had to make up eight days (via pay checkage) of lost time for when he was in the brig on his first enlistment. We maintain contact and visit.

There are several others, but .......I tend to ramble on.

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?
While undergoing recruit training, everyone is familiar with the shaving routine, and you had better do it EVERY DAY. In civilian life, I was accustomed to sporting long sideburns and a crew cut with a 'duck's ass' as was the custom of the time. Of course, it was all but impossible to sport a crew cut, but every day I would shave the side of my face a little bit lower and finally was sporting unusually long sideburns by the time Final Field Day arrived.

Drill Instructors being what they are, were very intense as that big day neared. Ours had neighboring DIs conduct preliminary inspections of our platoon in order to look at us with new sets of eyes. I didn't have a worry in the world, not realizing the imminent danger that I had placed myself in. When the strange DI came in front of me, he began to inspect me from head to toes but, his eyes FROZE (although I was looking past his right shoulder, I could tell that I was in deep shit--it did not take superior instinct to realize that) to one side of my face, and not believing his eyes shifted his DI intent gaze to the other side of said face. He was absolutely speechless, began a sort of drooling and gasping to say something, and finally bellowed out for my Senior Drill Instructor to join him. It seemed like they spent an eternity shouting at one another, with incredulous finger-pointing at my face. They were so distracted and amazed at what I had pulled off that all that happened was I was instructed to "GO F.......G SHAVE IMMEDIATELY," I don't think that I have ever moved so fast before then or since and I ran track in high school!! I also boxed in a Catholic home for poor kids and in high school, which skills entertained my platoon's drill instructors from time to time, which can only explain why I skated Scott free.

And, most important of all, remember that boot camp graduation picture taken with a dress blue white frame cap and the blouse that was split and buttoned up the back? You can clearly see those long-assed sideburns in that photo! What a grand souvenir, especially since I could not bring myself to splurge on one of those end-of-training books with all those neat photographs of the training routine.

It wasn't funny at the time, but I received about $42.00 every two weeks; almost everyone had a Brownie Hawkeye camera and a steam iron. At $42. every two weeks, well, after a speed run to the PX to replenish shaving gear and other necessities like putting aside enough money to cover laundry and dry cleaning for uniforms, there wasn't much remaining for beer runs, so the camera and steam iron were subject to "temporary loan" to the local pawn shop, and redeemed after the next pay call. One would have to make mighty decisions as to what item was going to redeem that cycle, called for sage wisdom of whether or not you were going to need that steam iron or miss taking photos to send home to relatives or girlfriends. It was serious business then but brings smiles when one reflects back on those barren financial times.

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 finished my degree work at East Carolina University, earning a BSBA (Management); obtained employment with Eckerd Drugs as a store manager, two years (that was a killer-like experience); stock room and inventory control manager for a small factory manufacturing beverage dispensers, two years; production and inventory control manager for a somewhat larger factory manufacturing mechanical/electronic controls, five years

Upon being downsized out the door in Aug 85, I decided it was time to fend for myself, so I attended a trade school and acquired a license that qualified me to install and service oil-fired appliances in the heating industry. Working out of the trunk of an old family car, I built my business to the extent of fully outfitting 3 Dodge 1500 vans and provided 24-7 365 day service to 3400 residential customers located in 44 cities and towns surrounding my hometown of Watertown, MA, retiring at age 64 Apr 99.

When times got tough along the way, I would stare into a mirror while shaving and think of my Marine Corps days, and that, my Brothers and Sisters, was enough to get me re-motivated to excel.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I belong to the following outfits:

Marine Corps Mustang Association - provides a connection to like-minded individuals.

The Marine Corps League - keeps me in touch with former Marines in my community. And an avenue to contribute to many different causes.

The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation and the Marine Corps Association keep me abreast of the current doings within the Marine Corps.

Military Officers Association - provides me with knowledge of proposed and current legislation that affects active duty and retired personnel, as well as an introduction to various opportunities to avail oneself of many different services, vacation destinations, and most importantly, PROVIDES FOR A RESPECTED LOBBYING EFFORT to help ACQUIRE and PRESERVE EARNED benefits.

Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States provides an avenue to contribute to many different causes to assist veterans and provides for a RESPECTED lobbying effort to help acquire and preserve earned benefits.

Disabled American Veterans, Department of Massachusetts (Agent Orange), Life Member

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?
Absolutely. The old saws come to mind:

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going" resonates forever.

Praise in public; reprimand in private.

The seven P's; " Prior Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance."

Be helpful; educate and teach; your word is your bond; be clean, fair, and honest in all that you do.

Pray for strength and guidance before undertaking dangerous or challenging tasks.

Schedule and undergo ANNUAL PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS; this practice saved my life, discovering prostate cancer in its early stages, resulting in a complete cure.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE MARINE CORPS?
Do not waste your off-duty time; always have objectives, goals that you can realistically achieve within the time that you allocate. BUT do not overdo it; all work and no play make Jack a very dull boy.

Enroll in off-duty education courses, both military and civilian, with a distinct goal in mind.

Enroll in a sensible SAVINGS plan that is difficult to access so that you don't raid it from time to time. You are going to need MONEY when your active duty ceases or when you RETIRE, either on twenty or whenever your age allows. SOCIAL SECURITY is not enough to carry the day.

Stay HEALTHY; avoid an excess of ANYTHING, especially alcoholic beverages. Never take more than two drinks while away from your quarters; once that liquor is in you, it takes HOURS for the effects to recede, long beyond the 'feel good' sensation.

Make QUALITY time for your family.

There is LIFE after the MARINE CORPS; plan for it, enjoy it, and your family.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.

TWS and the US MARINES

My OCS bunkmate, Robert J. Dalton, saw my partially completed profile on TWS and poked me into completing it. By so doing, I dug out my old, dusty file folders containing Original orders, photos, and memories.

Several retired Marines have poked me and renewed contact; and AMAZINGLY, I found a BOOT CAMP platoon member from Platoon 341, Parris Island, SC from Sept-Dec1953!!

I learned long ago not to live in the past, which remains true today; would I do some things differently? You bet!! But I do not agonize about things that can not be changed, and I just continue to march each day as it arrives with a look to the near future.

KC 2.4.22