Tag Archives: marine corps

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Back to boot camp… part two.

February 6, 2024 Rivergirl 18 Comments

The only place on Parris Island that really sparked my husband’s memory was the parade deck.

It was a cold and windy day but he wanted to walk the entire thing.

The fancy grandstand wasn’t there in his day.

But he remembers being drilled and marched until he couldn’t see straight. D.I.’s screaming, recruits passing out from the heat, being overwhelmed and overtired, getting slapped when he said yes sir.

He swore he’d forget his mother’s name before his drill instructor’s.

The required selfie, wind blowing so hard I had hair in my mouth.

I walked around the Iwo Jima Statue and left the husband alone with his memories.

Those bricks he’s looking at are memorials. Engraved with the names of fallen Marines. A lot of the boys he went through boot camp with never came back from Vietnam. I think my husband sometimes wonders why he was the lucky one…

A while later we finished our tour of the base.

And decided to stop at the PX for a bite to eat.

Naturally, the food court was closed. But I was cold and wanted to buy a sweatshirt so we shopped.

The husband really wanted this funky bottle of vodka for the man cave bar.

We even tried to find a small box and some bubble wrap to smuggle it in his suitcase on the flight home… but no luck. The saleswoman said we could order it online but in Maine it’s illegal to mail liquor.

Boo to that.

Moving on, the husband checked out the price of Dress Blues.

And when we passed the challenge coins? I had to laugh.

Two full rows of Trump still for sale, while Obama and Biden were almost sold out.

It was a good morning.

My husband always wanted to go back and I’ve always wanted to see the place he talks about with such reverence.

❤️

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In which I take an old Marine back to boot camp…. part one.

February 4, 2024 Rivergirl 35 Comments

Day two of our anniversary trip started with a glorious sunrise.

And the required selfie with palm tree background.

We headed out early and pointed the beast south.

Through low country marsh…

And those wonderful live oaks. (You’re going to see a lot of them in the days to come because they were everywhere and I love them.)

More marsh.

More moss draped trees. (I did warn you)

An hour and a half later, we reached our destination.

Parris Island, South Carolina. The base that serves as east coast boot camp for the Marine Corps. The last time my Marine had been here was in 1966.

Almost 58 years had passed and he was interested to see how much he remembered.

Those palm trees lining the entrance road?

Nope.

The rifle range?

Yes. Though the brick jersey barriers were new.

I could tell this was an emotional trip down memory lane for him. The last time he walked these grounds he was fresh out of high school and training to go to war.

We drove slowly, touring and taking in the sights. Base housing has definitely improved over the years.

And as we rounded a large bend?

A beautiful golf course…

Complete with live oaks…

Ponds…

And shore birds.

Egrets and herons were everywhere.

As were the moss covered trees.

I asked if the golf course had been there in his day and he honestly didn’t know. During the Vietnam era, boot camp was condensed from 3 months into 2 and every single minute was spent training, drilling or sleeping. No days off. One hour a week to write a letter home and mandatory church service Sunday morning. There was no time for golf.

My husband really wanted to see his old barracks, but they were made of wood and torn down long ago. Modern brick was in their place.

Just when the husband was feeling disheartened that everything had changed… we saw this.

New recruits.

Looking lost and scared to death.

Scurrying to and fro beneath the famous sign.

Turn up your volume for the full effect.

Now that was familiar.

To be continued…

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In his element.

November 4, 2023 Rivergirl 10 Comments

As well as the ceremony at the Beirut Memorial, my husband’s squadron hosted a reunion dinner. And as you can imagine, being surrounded by old Marines telling stories is just about my husband’s favorite place to be.

From left to right… Corporal, Gunny, Captain.

The next day it was a picnic at the marina on base.

More old comrades, more stories.

And while they were on the air station? A chance to refamiliarize themselves with the big toys.

The V-22 Osprey, an 80 million dollars per nightmare of an aircraft. My husband worked on this program when the Marine Corps first adopted them to replace his beloved CH-46 helicopter. 30 years of R&D and they were still falling out of the sky. We had one crash down the road from our house when we lived in North Carolina and Marines were refusing orders to fly in them. Meant to assist troop deployment in the Middle East, it was discovered the intake clogged with sand which rendered it virtually useless. I’ve read they’ve finally worked out the kinks. Time will tell.

A CH-53 Sea Stallion. The first heavy lift transport helicopter to be refueled in the air. I’ve been in one of these, they’re beasts.

The Bell UH-1 Iroquois, otherwise known as the Huey…. the workhorse of the Marine Corps and beloved by Vietnam Veterans like my husband.

The twin engine AH-1W Super Cobra with its blades folded down. This is a lean, mean, made for attack machine.

(Believe it or not yours truly can identify which of these choppers is flying over her head by sound alone. That’s what you get from living in a military town for 16 years.)

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Old home week… in remembrance.

November 3, 2023 Rivergirl 11 Comments

While I was cleaning and organizing closets?

My husband was flying down to Jacksonville North Carolina for a long weekend to attend his old squadron’s 40 year remembrance reunion of the Beirut bombing.

I went to the 30th ten years ago and as you might imagine, spent most of my time standing around waiting for my husband to stop talking. And though he really wanted me to go with him again, I passed.

Though I did miss visiting with our daughter of the heart, her husband and an old Marine Corps buddy…

I knew my husband would be better off alone on this quick trip… free to catch up and have endless conversations with fellow Marines without me tapping my toe in the background.

He argued, but in the end I was right and he had a great time.

Here are a few highlights.

The major event was the ceremony at the Beirut Memorial.

241 servicemen lost their lives that horrible day in 1983 and the Corps does not forget their sacrifice.

This statue is a new addition to the park and honors the Navy Corpsmen who treat and protect our Marines in combat.

The current Commandant of the Marine Corps gave a very moving speech. The husband videoed the whole thing but I’ll just drop a photo.

The old gentleman in the middle is General Grey. He was the Commandant in 1983 and attends this ceremony of remembrance every single year. He’s 95 years of age now and is positively beloved by the Corps.

This is my husband with Colonel Gerahty. They served together on the USS Iwo Jima and were standing on the deck of the ship side by side when the building was bombed. I can tell by my husband’s face this was an emotional reunion.

Being a multi national peace keeping force in 1983, the Italian Navy sent representatives.

Some with very spiffy hats.

My husband with the French representatives.

❤️

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Fryeburg Fair, part two….what we didn’t see and why.

October 12, 2023 Rivergirl 33 Comments

Before I get down and dirty with all the things we saw at the Fryeburg Fair let me point out a few things we didn’t see.

We didn’t see the agricultural expo or the natural resources building ….

Because my husband met a man who knew our farming neighbor and had to talk to him for 37 minutes.

We didn’t see the craft show or tour the fiber arts building…

Because my husband struck up a 24 minute conversation with this nice volunteer who was rebuilding the motor on a vintage harrow.

And we didn’t see the rabbits, goats, llamas or chickens….

Because my husband met a fellow Marine who was stationed in Beirut, Lebanon during the same awful time. It was the ‘83 bombing that killed 241 servicemen, the largest loss of Marines in a single day since the Battle of Iwo Jima. This was a sad conversation and one I didn’t interrupt… but still.

You know my husband, it wasn’t brief.

🥴

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The time had come.

December 13, 2021 Rivergirl 28 Comments

Our annual pilgrimage to Tamworth Distillers in New Hampshire took place recently. The day was clear and cold and we found snow upon arrival.

But no one cares about that.

It’s a building filled with alcohol. Let’s shop!

I made a beeline to my very favorite gin, Damson plum… and gathered enough to make my checkbook squeal.

I passed on the whiskey made with beaver castoreum.

Because if he mixes it with urine to scent mark his territory ? I’m not using it to mix a cocktail.

Nope.

Not going to happen.

I did try their extremely unique brandy.

Made with the durian fruit. You know … the one that smells like rotting flesh?

While the aroma wasn’t that horrible, it was a bit too potent for my taste.

We spent a good deal of time in the store because naturally the husband found a Marine to talk to. They were stationed in the same place, with the same squadron and knew a lot of the same people… which meant yours truly wandered aimlessly back and forth, trying more free samples than she should have.

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Love was in the air.

March 2, 2021 Rivergirl 22 Comments

A rather tardy Valentines Day post.

A bouquet of flowers was delivered that morning….

And while I don’t think it was our local florist’s best work, the sentiment remained steadfast.

Early afternoon found us out in the barn and back at the Scrabble board.

Although the way it started reminded me a little too much of Bill and Monica.

Did I win?

Such a silly question.

Unbeknownst to my husband, I’d made early evening reservations at one of his favorite restaurants and before the place got too crowded, we slipped in for a glorious meal.

Long stemmed red roses were given to ladies upon entry… and petals were scattered everywhere. On the floor, on the window sills, on the chairs…..

Even under the beer taps.

We settled happily at the bar (the husband’s preferred spot because one of the bartenders was a Marine which can lead to hours long conversations) and I tucked into a few delightful Rum Punches. We had appetizers that I forgot to photograph… garlic Parmesan wings for the husband, creamy clam chowder for me… and were awaiting our meals when this older couple sat down across from us.

In case you can’t see it, the man was wearing a Marine Corps tee shirt. It was at that moment I knew I was doomed.

Like recognizes like… and within minutes the gentleman uttered the words I never want to hear on Valentines Day.

Semper Fi.

My husband bought them a round of drinks. They bought us a round of drinks. Military stories were traded across the bar….and by the time our lovely meals arrived?