Category: Marine Corps

Chip and Pat send us links to the Associated Press story that was started by Kate Pimental, a recruit who we discussed a few months ago who needed a crewneck T-shirt instead of the Corps’ V-neck T-shirt to cover her tattoo. Apparently, the Corps caved to the teen’s needs;

The Marines made the change Thursday after U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree complained that its dress policy unintentionally discriminated against female recruits. Men are allowed to wear crew-neck T-shirts.

Last month, the Democrat from Maine urged the Marine Corps to amend its rules and accept 20-year-old Kennebunk resident Kate Pimental. She has a tattoo just below her collarbone that says, “Let your smile change the world but never let the world change you.”

[…]

The altered dress code means Pimental can now cover her tattoo, which she got shortly after turning 18.

“There is nothing I want more than to be able to serve as a Marine,” she said.

Actually, there’s nothing more that she wanted than to have her tattoo, because she didn’t get it removed so she could join the Marines. The Corps had to adjust their policy so she could keep her tattoo and serve. I’m just helping her with the language.

71 years ago yesterday, Marine Corporal Hershel Woodrow “Woody” Williams, pretty much all by himself under the covering fire of four infantrymen battled with the Japanese on Iwo Jima for four long grueling hours. He tried to clear a path for tanks to get past a number of “pillboxes” while the diminutive Corporal (he’d initially been rejected by the Marines for being too short at 5’6″) was armed only with a flamethrower. You can hear him tell the story in this video;

His Medal of Honor citation reads;

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Demolition Sergeant serving with the First Battalion, Twenty-First Marines, Third Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Island, 23 February 1945. Quick to volunteer his services when our tanks were maneuvering vainly to open a lane for the infantry through the network of reinforced concrete pillboxes, buried mines and black, volcanic sands, Corporal Williams daringly went forward alone to attempt the reduction of devastating machine-gun fire from the unyielding positions. Covered only by four riflemen, he fought desperately for four hours under terrific enemy small-arms fire and repeatedly returned to his own lines to prepare demolition charges and obtain serviced flame throwers, struggling back, frequently to the rear of hostile emplacements, to wipe out one position after another. On one occasion he daringly mounted a pillbox to insert the nozzle of his flame thrower through the air vent, kill the occupants and silence the gun; on another he grimly charged enemy riflemen who attempted to stop him with bayonets and destroyed them with a burst of flame from his weapon. His unyielding determination and extraordinary heroism in the face of ruthless enemy resistance were directly instrumental in neutralizing one of the most fanatically defended Japanese strong points encountered by his regiment and aided in enabling his company to reach its’ [sic] objective. Corporal Williams’ aggressive fighting spirit and valiant devotion to duty throughout this fiercely contested action sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

“Woody” has made his life’s work remembering the folks who didn’t return from war with his Hershel Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation and for that work, Eagle Rare Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey has named him the 2016 Grand Prize winner of the 2016 Rare Life Award. The title comes with a $50,000 donation to his foundation which erects Gold Star memorials across the country.

Of the 27 Marines and Sailors who earned Medals of Honor on Iwo Jima, only “Woody” remains with us. Did I mention that he’s from here in West Virginia? Well, he is.

Chief Tango and Mick sent us links to articles about how Women Marines are trying to convince the Corps’ leadership that they need different height/weight standards to keep up with the men. From the Washington Post;

“Being big, strong, having a certain body mass, gives you an advantage,” [Commandant Gen. Robert B. Neller] testified [to the Senate Armed Serivces Committee]. “One of the things I’ve heard as I’ve gone around and talked to female Marines is, ‘Hey, I’m out working out. I’m lifting weights. I’m getting bigger. And now I’m outside the height-and-weight standards. Are you going to change the height-and-weight standards?’”

No. they don’t need different height-to-weight standards, they just need a different way to measure muscle mass. If you allow standards for weight to surge, you’re allowing the less active soldiers to “bulk up” on stored energy (fat). I’m pretty sure that Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus will just take this random information at face value with no research, unlike his rejection of the mixed gender Marine units experiment a few months ago. I was a 128 pound, 68″ tall private and I never needed to “bulk up” to meet infantry standards. The most I weighed was 160 pounds (68″ tall) when I was living the high life in Germany – beer and food – before I went to the Master Fitness Course where I learned about that whole physiology thing.

According to the Associated Press, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Pavelka was fired from his job as commander of the Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 on January 11, 2016. He was relieved of his duties by Brigadier General Russell Sanborn, commander of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing because the general had “lost confidence” in Pavelka’s leadership. Three days later on January 14th, two helicopters from the squadron crashed and 12 Marines were lost off the coast of Oahu.

Pavelka was replaced by Lt. Col. Eric Purcell, who spoke at a Jan. 22 memorial for the Marines.

[…]

The two helicopters crashed off Oahu’s north shore shortly before midnight. Rescue crews spotted debris 2 1/2 miles off of Oahu hours later. The five-day search spanned from the western coast of Oahu to the northeast corner of the island.

All four life rafts from the helicopters were found but they were empty. There was no indication anyone had been on any of the rafts, based on their condition and the lack of any personal effects, the Coast Guard said.

From the Marine Corps Times;

A Marine official familiar with Pavelka’s removal told Marine Corps Times that the commander was “not able to maintain material readiness standards … for optimal use of manpower, material, facilities and funding.”

This is going to be a long and ugly investigation.

This story is a few days old and today is a slow news day (I can only get local news on my snow-covered satellite dish and it’s all weather-related) so here’ the story of Anthony Bauswell, an Arkansas teenager who wanted to join the Marine Corps, but they tell him that his tattoo (pictured above) prevents him from enlisting, according to the Washington Times;

When he showed the recruiter his body art, he was automatically disqualified from service.

“As soon as I said rebel flag on my ribs, he says DQ, just automatically, DQ,” Mr. Bauswelltold local news station KARK 4.

The tattoo on his ribs shows a Confederate flag flying underneath a banner that says “Southern Pride.”

“I felt pretty low. My own government wasn’t going to let me serve my country because of the ink on my skin,” he said.

The Marine Corps tattoo policy states: “Tattoos/brands that are sexist (express nudity), racist, eccentric or offensive in nature… are prohibited.”

Mr. Bauswell said he understood the stigma associated with the flag, but he didn’t think his tattoo was a racist symbol.

“I definitely don’t want it to be seen as racism, which is 99 percent of the reason I got southern pride on it,” he told KARK 4.

I don’t have any tattoos, my body is beautiful just the way it is, so I don’t understand the motivation to go through the process. However, I don’t think the Confederate Flag, or the Battle Flag, or whatever you want to call it, is racist either. It’s just real popular to call it racist these days, because everyone is so butt hurt about every-damn-thing. However, if young Bauswell want to serve in the Marine Corps, he should get the tat removed and move on – which is more important to him, the tattoo or military service?

Bobo sends us a link to the Marine Corps Times that tells the story of Marine Staff Sergeant Robert Van Hook who was awarded the Silver Star for his actions in Herat Province, Afghanistan, on August 14, 2013. From his citation;

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy as Element Leader, Marine Special Operations Team 8224, Special operations Task Force-West, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, from 14 to 15 August 2013 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. During an Operation in Herat Province, Sergeant VanHook executed a hasty ambush on 10 insurgents, wounding 2 and killing 4. He then aggressively attacked an enemy held building with hand grenades and small arms resulting in an additional killed insurgent and two detainees. Sergeant VanHook continued to orchestrate both direct and indirect fires on the enemy with distinction as the operation continued. Later as a separate but mutually supporting position was attacked with overwhelming fire, he courageously manned a MK-19 position which had been abandoned due to heavy targeting by enemy fire in order to suppress and lift the enemies accurate fire from friendly forces. His effects on the enemy caused them to focus their efforts back to his position, targeting him with a rocket propelled grenade and machine gun fire which resulted in his wounding and temporarily rendering him unconscious. Despite his wounds affecting his ability to walk, he continued to direct fires on the enemy while under enemy fire, aggressively led his element, and ultimately played a pivotal role in coordinating 120mm mortar danger close suppressive fires for aerial medical evacuation during approach into a hot landing zone. By his bold initiative, undaunted courage, and complete dedication to duty, Sergeant VanHook reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions United States Naval Service.