GYSGT JOHN CARTER FAY
SMETHPORT, PA
BORN: 9/11/25
DIED: 1/3/09

GYSGT FAY SERVED DURING THE LATER YEARS OF WW2, AND SERVED 3 TOURS OF DUTY IN KOREA. HE ENLISTED IN THE MARINE CORPS AT THE AGE OF 17, WITH THE STRONG DESIRE TO SERVE AND PROTECT HIS COUNTRY. GYSGT FAY SERVED AS A MOTOR TRANSPORT MECHANIC, AND MADE A LATERAL MOVE TO BECOME AN AVIATION MECHANIC, SPECIALIZING IN ROTOR-WING AIRCRAFT. GYSGT FAY RETIRED IN AUGUST 1962 AFTER 20 YEARS OF HONORABLE SERVICE, AND LATER BECAME AN ADVISOR TO THE COAST GUARD FOR AVIATION. HE THEN SECURED EMPLOYMENT WITH SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT, AND WAS INFLUENTIAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF VARIOUS ROTOR-WING AIRCRAFT, FROM CONCEPT TO PRODUCTION. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS THREE DAUGHTERS, ONE SON, AND SEVERAL GRANDCHILDREN.

GYSGT Fay is my grandfather, and the main reason I made the decision to enlist in the Marine Corps. Today I have lost a loving grandfather and a brother. When I was injured with stress fractures at boot camp TD 49 in August 1995, my "Pop Pop" contacted my series XO in the effort to assess my ability to continue my training. My XO called me into his office, saying he has GYSGT Fay on the other line, wishing to speak to me. I accepted the receiver, and on the other line my grandfather asked how I was doing and if I was OK. I answered with "Fine, Sir", "Yes Sir" as a recruit is trained to do. He then told me that no matter if I chose to continue training or come back home, that I would be loved and respected, regardless of my choice. He then asked if it was my intent to stay, and I replied "Yes, Sir." Pop-Pop then transformed to GYSGT Fay, who then invoked the same time and battle tested inspiration only the Marine Corps SNCOs are renowned for. GYSGT Fay told me that I knew what needed to be done, and that it was my job to commit myself to the mission: complete training and come home as a United States Marine. After my recovery in Medical Rehabilitation Platoon, I returned to training October 25th, and graduated boot camp November 3rd 1995.

Without my grandfather's example, I would not be the Marine I am today. My grandfather gave me one of his Service Alpha collar emblems when I was 4 years old, and told me that I would one day know what the symbol meant. To my mother's pride and lament, as a self professed Marine brat, she somehow knew that my grandfather's words and gift would take me from playing with my GI Joe action figures as a child, to one day defending our country as a United States Marine. When I returned from OIF in 2003, my mother told me that she knew my grandfather would be proud, knowing that I answered my country's call, and brought my Marines and myself back in one piece. I talked to my Pop Pop shortly after my return, and we shared some of our experiences of war, something that we couldn't do before in our previous times together. I found myself in different company. I now recognized my grandfather as a brother. As time passed my Pop Pop developed symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease. The illness tore away at his memory, and affected his ability to reason and communicate. But strangely his "brain housing unit" held fast to his Marine Corps experiences, and he would always ask what I was doing with my career, and offered guidance on my advancement. When I last saw him, we again shared our experiences in war and life in the Marine Corps. We sat in armchairs, but were by no means armchair warriors. It was then that he leaned to me, and with a curled lip, again only the finest Marine Corps SNCOs can pull off, said that he was proud of who I had become "You done good".

My grandfather was a loving father to my mom and a joy to us grandkids. We marveled at the way he made his dentures chatter and jumped out of our skins each time he called to say hello. He would want to hear how all 8 of his grandkids in Bridgeport, CT were doing, and offered sage advice to us all in the way only he was capable of doing. I will miss my Pop Pop, as a grandfather, of course, but also as a brother. The streets of Heaven are another Marine safer for eternity. I love you Pop Pop...rest in peace...Semper Fidelis.

GYSGT JONATHAN BRACA
INJURY SUPPORT SNCOIC, NORTHEAST REGION
WOUNDED WARRIOR REGIMENT
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
OIF I (2003) 6TH MTBN, 2/2 "WARLORDS" 24TH MEU

I first met John at MAG-25 El Toro 1954/1955 when I was Personnel Sgt Major at HMS-25. I helped him get a secondary MOS in the Helicopter field. He was a senior Tsgt & the Motor Transport field was overstaffed in rank. He was transferred to MCAF Santa Ana wher after OJT he managed to change his primary MOS & was later promoted to E 7. John & I worked evenings & week ends togather at a Ritchfield Service station on 17th St Santa Ana to supplement our than low pay. Later he hired in at Sikorsky as a Field Rep where I met him years later. He was an outstanding Marine & also as a Sikorsky Rep. We traveled to gather to Stratford Ct for a reunion years back I met his daughter at Smethport & saw the new home he was constructing. I called John each year until the point he could no longer remember things. He will be Sadly Missed but never forgotten. Semper Fidelis Gy Moore