Marine Corps Birthday
Bill Woodier
again as something to think about on the 227th birthday of the United States
Marine Corps.
Once a Marine......
He sat alone amid a swirling sea of Navy blue and Army
brown, alternately staring ahead
at nothing and at the floor between his new shoes with the
high cordovan brown shine.
The somber forest green of his uniform was relieved by the
two rows of colorful campaign
and decoration ribbons on his left breast. The white one
with red and blue stripes
indicated award of the Silver Star; the purple one with
white edges and gold star cluster
represented the Purple Heart, earned twice. The uniform
did not fit him well and anyone
could tell it was fresh new issue. On his upper left
sleeve was a diamond shaped patch
with a big red 1 on a blue background and white stars.
Inside the red 1 was the word
"Guadalcanal" in white letters. His was the only green
uniform in the train station waiting
room that day.
A boy of 9 or 10 approached hesitantly but the young Marine
did not notice him at first.
"Sir" the boy said.
It was several seconds before he realized the boy was
addressing him. No one had ever
referred to him as "sir" before. It was a title reserved
for officers and his elders.
"What" replied the young Marine, a bit annoyed at the
intrusion on his thoughts.
"My father says you're a Marine" said the boy.
"I was. I'm a civilian now....going home" the young Marine
responded.
"But you're in uniform," the boy countered; confused
because, in his mind, you were
what you seemed to be.
"It's the only thing I have to wear" the Marine replied.
"My father says, Once a Marine, always a Marine."
"Why does he say that"
"My brother, Lucky, is a Marine."
"That's nice" the Marine said. It was a dismissive
response but the boy did not recognize
it as such.
"He will always be a Marine" the boy continued.
"Why do you think that" said the Marine.
"Because he died and is never coming back."
The young Marine was startled by the answer. The boy, more
bold now, pointed to the
Marine's shoulder patch, "That's where my brother died" he
said matter-of-factly, without
emotion. "Guadalcanal. Did you know him? His name was
Robert but they called him
Lucky. He had blond hair like me."
The Marine felt a tightness in his chest. He had known
many fair-haired Marines that
would never come back. He didn't know if any of them had
been named Robert. They
always called each other by their last lame to try to keep
it impersonal.
"What's your name" the Marine asked.
"Richard" the boy replied.
"I mean your last name."
"Collins. Did you know him? My mother would like to
know." the boy said, turning to
look at his mother.
The Marine looked in the direction the boy indicated. A
middle-aged couple sat up
straight and were looking at him apprehensively. The
mother had a pleading look on her
face and what appeared to be tears in her eyes.
"Tell her....I knew him. I knew them all" he said. "And
tell her I'll always remember them
all." He then picked up his sea bag and left. He was the
lucky one. He was going home.
Gene M. Bednarz H 2/7 USM
"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though
checkered by failure than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither
enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows
not victory nor defeat"
JP5844
Jonathan Primm
USMC 1975-1980