Category: Marine Corps

You might remember Monifa Sterling, a former Marine who got into a tiff with her command structure which ended with a Big Chicken Dinner (Bad Conduct Discharge) for the lady. She took it to the civilian courts because she claimed that the issue was about some phrases from the Bible that she had posted in her work area. The Marine Corps said that she was discharged for being a bad Marine. Fox News falsely reported that it was all due to the signage at her desk, but this is from the court’s finding when the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces wouldn’t overturn the Special Court Martial;

In August 2013, another of Appellant’s superiors, SSgt Morris, noticed that Appellant was not wearing the proper uniform, and he ordered her to wear “her service uniforms as directed by the Commandant of the Marine Corps.” According to SSgt Morris, Appellant refused to obey the order because Appellant said “she had a medical chit out there stating she could not wear the uniform.” SSgt Morris spoke with medical personnel at the base, who stated that Appellant could wear the required uniform, and he again ordered Appellant to change into the proper uniform. Appellant refused. SSgt Morris then escorted Appellant to First Sergeant (1stSgt) Robinson, who repeated the order for a third time. Appellant again refused.

On September 12, 2013, 1stSgt Robinson ordered Appellant to report to the Pass and Identification building on Sunday, September 15, 2013, from 4:00 PM until approximately 7:30 PM, to help distribute vehicle passes to families of service members returning from deployment. According to 1stSgt Robinson, Appellant refused on the basis that “she was on medication.” On September 13, 2013, 1stSgt Robinson informed Major (Maj) Flatley that he was having issues with Appellant.

Maj Flatley met with Appellant to “talk some sense into her, reason with her, [and] to make sure that she goes to her appointed place of duty on Sunday.” During their conversation, Maj Flatley attempted to hand the vehicle passes to Appellant. According to Maj Flatley, Appellant refused to take the passes and stated that she would not be there and would be sleeping. As a result, Maj Flatley called 1stSgt LaRochelle and directed her to begin writing a charge sheet on Appellant.

Well, the Supreme Court reject her appeal today, and Fox News is still focusing on the Biblical phrase;

The First Liberty Institute, which represented Sterling, lamented the Supreme Court’s call on Monday.

“Because the Supreme Court did not decide to review the case, the travesty below by the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces will now stand,” Kelly Shackelford, CEO and chief counsel for First Liberty, said in a statement. “The military court’s outrageous decision means federal judges and military officials can strip our service members of their constitutional rights just because they don’t think someone’s religious beliefs are important enough to be protected. Our service members deserve better.”

Monifa Sterling was a bad Marine. Period. I’m glad the Supreme Court rejected the appeal which could only muddy the issue. In fact, the Biblical phrase that she posted could probably be interpreted as a means of pissing off her leaders.

Thanks to Mick for the link.

Mick sends us the link to a new video about the Montford Point Marines, the pioneer first Black Marines who began their service during World War II. The video leans heavily on the eye-witness interviews of the men who were trained in the remote corner of Camp Lejeune for the crucible of the war in the Pacific and beyond. Some of the Montford Point Marines went on to serve in the Marine Corps in the Korean War and in Vietnam.

From Black Past;

Initially the recruits were trained by white officers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs) but citing a desire to have blacks train blacks, the Marines quickly singled out several exceptional black recruits to serve as NCO drill instructors. In January 1943, Edgar R. Huff became the first black NCO as a private first class. In February Gilbert “Hashmark” Johnson, a 19-year veteran of the Army and Navy, became the first Drill Sergeant. By May 1943 all training at Montford Point was done by black sergeants and drill instructors (DIs), with Johnson as chief DI. Both Johnson and Huff would be renowned throughout the entire Marine Corps for their demanding training and exceptional leadership abilities.

You can read more about the Montford Point Marines at their association website and at this DoD article that recounts an event this week in Colp, Illinois where some of the Montford Point Marines were honored.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the Marine Corps upgraded the award that Captain Andrew Kim received for his actions in Iraq on August 6, 2003 from a Bronze Star to a Silver Star.

An Iraqi man approached Kim, his team chief, a linguist and a source. He suddenly drew a pistol and shot Kim’s team chief in the neck.

A sergeant at the time, Kim immediately returned fire, killing the assassin. He was then hit repeatedly by small arms fire from the rear. Disregarding his own wounds, Kim ushered his fallen team chief into a vehicle and exited the ambush’s kill zone, pursued by five Iraqis in a white pickup truck.

His vehicle sprayed by volleys of enemy fire, Kim drove to a light armored reconnaissance security element and ordered a deadly counterattack on the enemy — “bold” actions the Marine Corps concluded showed “undaunted courage and complete dedication to duty,” plus “gallantry and effectiveness under fire” that “saved the lives of all those conducting the mission,” according to this award citation.

Marines.mil reports that Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan and Staff Sgt. David Wyatt were posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for their actions on July 16, 2015 in Chattanooga, Tennessee when a jihadist went on a shooting rampage.

According to eye witness statements and 911 transcripts during the event, Sullivan and Wyatt took charge in the evacuation of unit personnel and contacting authorities. They also returned to the scene of the incident when personnel were unaccounted for, risking their lives in the process.

“This is a day to celebrate the heroic, exemplary, and selfless service of two great Marines, who were by all counts great human beings, devoted Marines, and wanting nothing more than to take care of their Marines,” said Maj. Gen. Burke W. Whitman, commanding general of 4th MARDIV, who attended the ceremony along with Sgt. Maj. Michael A. Miller, sergeant major of 4th MARDIV.

During the ceremony, Cotton presented the medal to Jerry and Betty Sullivan, parents of GySgt Sullivan; and to Lorri Wyatt, wife of SSgt Wyatt.

“It’s a great honor and we’re humbled by it, it’s something you don’t want to receive but it’s good to have him recognized for the actions he took that day,” said Jerry Sullivan.

LIRight sends us a link to Defense.gov which reports of the dedication of the Chosin Few Battle Monument in the new Medal of Honor Theater in the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford knows the story of the battle, as all Marines do. The 1st Marine Division, two battalions of the Army’s 31st Infantry Regiment and British Royal Marines from 41 (Independent) Commando were attacking north, chasing a defeated North Korean Army up to the Yalu River, when an estimated 120,000 Chinese Communist troops attacked and surrounded the force around the Chosin Reservoir.

[…]

Dunford said. “In all sincerity, any success I have had as a Marine has been as a result of attempting to follow in their very large footsteps.

One set of footprints belonged to Joseph F. Dunford, Sr. who celebrated his 20th birthday while carrying a Browning Automatic Rifle with the Baker Bandits of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines in the ridges over the reservoir Nov. 27, 1950. “He spent the night in close combat as three regiments of the Chinese 79th Division attempted to annihilate the 5th and 7th Marines,” the general said.

Growing up, Dunford’s father never discussed how he spent his 20th birthday. “He never spoke of the horrors of close combat or the frostbite that he and many Marines suffered on their march to the sea,” he said. “I was in the Marine Corps for seven years before we had a serious conversation about his experiences in the Korean War.”

If you haven’t seen the documentary “Chosin”, you really should. It’s the story of the battle told in interviews with the veterans who were there. Last time I checked it is still on Netflix.

The National Museum of the Marine Corps is on the base at Quantico, Virginia.

The Washington Post reports that President Trump has named retired USMC General Randolph D. Alles to be the new director of the Secret Service.

Alles spent 35 years in the Marines before retiring in 2011, according to the White House. He comes to the Secret Service after serving in several roles with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, most recently being appointed acting deputy commissioner on Jan. 20, the day President Trump took office. Alles has also led the Air and Marine Operations division of the customs agency, which has more than 1,000 agents, according to the agency’s website.

Alles is taking over the Secret Services after they’ve been criticized for leadership problems over the past several years from Colombian hookers to White House intruders.

President Trump’s appointment of former soldiers and Marines to head some of his critical agencies reflects the public’s view that members of the military offer the best chance for reform of a government that has been dysfunctional for decades.

Thanks to Chief Tango for the link.