Who is the Marine you'll honor this Memorial Day?
Maybe it's someone in your graduating class. A Marine who served beside you in the jungle or the desert, on a landing zone or in the frigid mountains.
Maybe it's a father or grandfather whose eyes still meet yours from a faded photo. Or a husband, brother, or sister who stood so proudly in their dress blues.
Maybe it's a veteran Marine you had the honor to know, years after their active service ended. Or a son or daughter, grandchild or friend, gone before their time.
Tell us who that Marine is. We will remember them with you. We will give them the thanks and honor they deserve. And as you honor that Marine, you'll also be supporting current and future Marines for professional success.
Give a Memorial Day Gift to YOUR MCAF Today.
Add a Comment below to share YOUR favorite memory!
Comments
1979 Fuji Typhoon
My brother USMC Cpl. William "Bill" Gilliam was with the 2NDBN 4TH Marines and on duty the night of the 1979 Fuji Typhoon and Fire that killed so many brave Marines. He suffered from PTS and survivors guilt until he passed in December.
As a true Marine he did not seek help via the VA. Is there a site, group or person out there that can help me seek help for his benefits for his kids?
I was there!
Bill Gilliam was my squad leader! contact me at mortarman@rocketmail.com
Two Marines
I would actually like to honor 2 Marines, one I never met, one I know well. One is living, one is not. The first Marine was the son of a neighbor. He was mortally wounded in the Anbar province of Iraq in early 2006 & died a few weeks later. I never knew him or his family but when he died, his funeral service involved the entire town. From what I understand, he was wounded saving several of his buddies' lives. His death shattered his family. His story affected me profoundly. My son attended his funeral procession. He had just enlisted, & left for boot camp a few weeks later. He is my only child, he was barely 20 yrs old. I missed him terribly but I refused to cry, remembering that, around the corner was a mom who would never see her son again. My son graduated in the Honor Platoon from Parris Island. A year later, my son was in Anbar province where he was promoted to Lance Cpl & received a Meritorius Mast & a slight head injury. My son, an MP, served his 5 yrs of active duty with distinction (including a very difficult deployment in Afghanistan). He earned the respect of his buddies and the boundless pride of his family. From a kid who we never thought would get out of high school, he grew into a man any parent would be proud to call son. A Marine. He is now a police officer (thanks to his Marine Corps training & experience) with a wife & son of his own. We honor him & all who serve, and we remember the fallen this Memorial Day. Semper Fi.
Thank you for your Service and sacrifice
First I want to thank Raymond Toenniessen, who served in the Viet Nam War. His love for his brother Ron was amazing. Now they are both in heaven together. And to Mark Schultz who served in the Marines. Then to to my nephews, Thomas Schultz, and Richard Schultz, and my neice Claudia. I thank you for your continued service to the USA. I hope the Lord will keep you safe. And to my neice Erica, who served and is now home with her children so her husband Richard can serve. May God bless all those who have served, gave their lives, and who serve today. The many, the proud, the patriot!
GySgt David J. Stott USMC
My father.
He taught me what it was like to be the "perfect" Marine. I grew up around the Marine corps and through his eyes saw what it meant to be a Marine and what it meant to act like a Marine. Throughout his career, and my life, I met people who were legendary Mariens and who would become legendary, including Gen (then Lt) Zinni, Col (then Capt) North, Gen Samuel Jaskilka (then Asst. Copmmandant), Major (later Commandant) Al Gray and many others.
Every boy grows up wanting his father to be proud of him, and I was no exception. When he discovered that I joined the Marine Corps becuase I was bored and for no other reason, he seemed to be slightly disappointed, but when I saw him for the first time after I graduated Boot Camp, and he was standing there when I threw the Batallion Commander the highball, I saw more pride in his eyes than I did than I had before.
As I made my own way through the Marine Corps, I would in variably come across a couple of Marines who knew my father at the various bases I went to (and even one grizzled chaplain that had served with him in Vietnam) and they all spoke about him with pride and respect in their voices and in their eyes.
The day he got called to his final posting, my family got letters and e-mails from as far away as NATO headquarters and from HQMC from Marines that knew him.
A finer Marine, I never knew, and a better man I could never hope to be.
honoring a Marine
Im always thinking about my fellow marines that perished during Typhoon Tip (Fuji fire) in 1979, however I would like to honor Lance Corporal Don Fox,creator of the warriors den web site which honors the victims of Fuji Fire and also the victims of the Beirut bombing. Lcpl Don Fox passed away a few years ago but I will always remember him fondly. He took me under his wing upon my arrival to 2/4 and showed me the dos and donts on the "rock" RIP Don Fox!
FIRST LIEUTENANT JAMES JOSEPH MIKLOVIC
MY UNCLE LOST HIS LIFE WHILE SERVING THE USMC IN JUME 1976.
My Drill Instructor and friend
I served for 28 years and retired as a CWO-4 (Gunner) and Program Manager in the Department of Veterans Affairs. I owe my careers to my drill instructor and mentor-Sgt. Major James P. Henderson who passed away a year ago. He indeed was a model Marine.
Ken (Hank) Tyler
to all Marines from a non-Marine
I was an Army brat growing up, and have always admired and respected our servicemen/women and their families. However, the last 3+ years working for the MCAF& has given me an opportunity to meet so many incredible Marines, it is quite humbling.
To all of THEM, my best and my sincerest gratitude.
Semper Fi,
Bradley (Web/IT)