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My OCS/Basic School class hald a reunion last week, and one of the guys sent this out Saturday. You guys have to read this. Makes me proud.
SF
TC
I don't do this much, but I thought I'd share this one.
On the weekend of 7/18, Dee and I went to West Hampton, Long Island, for
what has become an annual reunion of some guys I went to Holy Cross with
and were in the Corps. ( Chuck Mansfield, Bob Lund and Roger Hunt). We
went to OCS and Basic School together, all are Viet Nam vets, all are
certified whackos and we always have a lot of laughs. Chuck Mansfield ran
into George Sullivan who lives in Southhold Long Island. Sully, (as
Charlie and Paul know) was a Basic school classmate-he lost his left leg
and won a
Navy Cross with 4th Marines on St. Patrick's Day, 1967. Sully (and of
course Charlie Sudholt) were my suitemates in Basic School and part of the
fiercest fireteam ever known to the Corps. Sully hosted a barbecue and
invited Gerry Burns and Kevin Brooks, members of 1st Platoon, A Company TBS
1-67 and of course both Vietnam vets. Gerry shared this one:
Gerry works for Variety Magazine and is connected with some show biz
types. He also knew actor Robert DeNiro from his youth. Gerry recently
returned from Iraq with DeNiro and some other celebrities on a USO Tour.
(Gerry says DeNiro is a fantastic guy). Anyway, Gerry was walking through
one of the 1st Mar Div camps in blistering heat approaching 120 degrees.
He was in civilian shorts and walked by a Marine Lt. Col. and a 1st
Sergeant, who politely inquired what a civilian in his right mind was doing
in such an infernal ****hole. Gerry explained that he was with the USO
group, and was a civilian, but was an ex-marine and thus not in his right
mind. They asked when he had served and he told them and casually
mentioned that he had served in Viet Nam. The Lt. Col. and 1st Sgt., as if
on cue, immediately snapped to attention and saluted and said "Thank you
and welcome home".
Gerry was astonished. They explained that they were both Gulf war I vets
and came home to hero's welcomes. However they said all active duty
Marines knew that fighting in Iraq was light duty compared to Viet Nam,
the RVN vets were their heros and came home to nothing. So they make it a
point to come to attention, salute and thank any RVN vets they meet.
Gerry said he broke down and cried.
Semper Fi
Frank Teague
Semper Fidelis means Semper Fidelis
Posted : 2003-08-05 08:38
TC:
Thanx for sharing this. What a heart warming story. 🙂
Hugs,
Kelly
Posted : 2003-08-05 08:52
Just another example of what's a Marine. The "Old" Corps was always more difficult than the present. VN guys "know" it was a lot worse in Korea and WWII. I remember listening to the WWII and Korea vets when I first got my commission and being astonished by what they survived.
My daughter's fiancee came home from Iraq recently and prefaced one conversation with "it wasn't anything like you went through in VN, but..."
I figure it all comes from the ingrained respect for those who paved the way, and a reluctance to put yourself on the same level as the "legends". Really, all you have to do is get old and crotchety, or be remembered by a few friends with some sea stories, and you become part of the legend.
Semper Fi
Bob
Posted : 2003-08-05 14:57
You guys make an old man cry...
I am proud of those who served before us and also those who serve after us.... We are all a Band Of Brothers ...
Semper Fidelus my Brothers,
jd "Falcon"
"Life is tough. It's a lot tougher if your stupid." Sgt Stryker,"Sands of Iwo Jima"
Posted : 2003-08-09 12:05
Our younger Brothers
Man oh Man
What a great story and tribute to the long green line. I got back in country Apr.'71, it took 2sec. to learn that it wasn't fashionable to be a VN Vet. I spent the next 30 years hiding the fact that I had been in VN. Getting a job and living in a small town, it was better not to play to the stereotyping. In '02 I went to P.Cola and came home in front of 2000 of the best friends I will ever have.
I have always conducted my life with honor and integrity, this is appreciated by people that don't and may never know that I was a Marine. I do it out of respect for my older Brothers, and see it being carried on by our younger Brothers in Iraq. Boy ain't this grand "you get what you sow" Right?
I at Chuck Burin,s side have taken on VMO-2 in Reno'04, am SLJO/Life member of the OV-10 Bronco Assn., now that I'm home it seems that I can't get enough of you's guys. "Who'd a thunkit?"
Roy M. (ARM) Pitt
The time, the inclination, and the where-with-all
Posted : 2003-08-10 08:12
