As a former Navy pilot who has flown combat missions, I
appreciated the
difficult job of the Marines on the ground: first
in and often the last to leave.
This recognition is well deserved and long overdue. Semper Fi.
--- Lt. Shane Osborn, USN (Ret.)
Nebraska
Lt. Osborn successfully landed
his disabled EP-3 Aries II on China's Hainan Island after colliding
in April 2001 with a Chinese F-8 fighter over the South China Sea during a
surveillance flight.
The Chinese jet went down. The 24 crew members of the U.S. plane were held
for 11 days by
Chinese authorities, heightening tensions between the U.S. and China.
Individual Letters of Support:
Click on each author's name.
(Names are listed in no particular order)
Link to Fleet Reserves Association Support Note
My brother-in-law, Robert L. Barber, Jr., was disabled
during his service in Vietnam,
and suffered from the affects of Agent Orange for the rest of his life.
Yet the only thing he loved
more than being a Marine was his country. I remember each time we were at
the American Legion
on a holiday, he would gather all of us together in a circle, where we would
join hands and
sing "Proud to be an American". We gathered in a circle and sang
it at his funeral. His life and
service honored his country; it is time his country honored him and all
other Marines.
(How like Marines not to ask for a fancy monument, just three words!)
I am sending a copy of this letter to my congressman to ask his support
for H.R. 34.
Let us be faithful to those who are "always faithful".
Terri Oliver
The Late Robert L. Barber, Jr., SGT
As the widow of a Viet Nam era Marine, I believe the Marines deserve greater recognition
for their service and sacrefices. My husband died of the effects of Agent Orange,
but never once said during his illness that he should not have served his country.
SIDNEY BARBER
Widow of the USMC
Mastic, NY
Gene Spanos - Squad Leader on Truck w/ rifle
- ILL
Lee Burdick - Marine on truck with bunocs - Va
Frankie Noe - Holding the M79 grenade launcher - Mass
Joe Rabasca in far rear - face only - NY
We know that when honor, courage, intergity
were on the line - we fulfilled our duty. We answered the call.
God Bless our Marines
fighting everywhere.
Gene Spanos (Ret)
Park Ridge,IL
It would mean a lot to this former Navy corpsman to see
my Marine Corps brothers and sisters,
who have given so much for so long,
acknowledged formally. Semper Fi!
Leona Tulumello
Flower Mound, TX
Retired Navy Corpsman
I was in the Gator Navy aboard an LST (Tank Landing Ship)
and was privieged to know the
Marines on a first hand basis. I salute the
Marine Corps.
Charles Abraham
Prescott Valley, AZ
Retired Navy
I'm a Navy Vet and while I was serving I never realized
that a Marines pay check said
Department of the Navy till a Marine buddy told me so. I think that's wrong.
Change this as it's so long overdue by 236 years. Semper
Fi to all my Marine Buddies.
--- Richard Simonetti
I love our Coutry, our military, and all that we stand
for. The Marines do more
for our Country than all other branches combined.
I would like to see the
Marines recognized as their own branch. The Marines
are the best of the best.
I was in the Navy from 1969 to 1973. I'm a Navy
man through and through.
The Marines are special to me. Also, my youngest
brother served as a Marine.
My oldest brother was in the Army and served
in Vietnam.
David Pyle
Longmont, CO
Retired Navy
The Marine Corps
richly deserves the recognition this bill offers
---- Ervin Kaplan
Chairman of the U.S. Marine Raider Association
Web Site Committee
I was in the army but the Marine corps deserves its due.
---- Joseph Smith
......... Latrobe, PA
It is time! This is one of those things that would hurt no one,
but would
makes hundreds of thousands feel that after 231 years of
unquestioned and
unequaled loyalty and dedication to duty their service
is considered equal
to that of the other services.
President Reagan said “Some people spend
a lifetime wondering
if they made a difference, The Marines don't have that
problem."
It is time for the congress to make a statement and give the
Marine Corps
equal recognition it so richly deserves for its service to the
freedom of this country. Congress has never hesitated to call on Marines
to
go fight and die, yet some members still hesitate to give us full recognition.
Why? Senator John B. Warner (R-VA) Stated "but there would need
to be
a compelling reason to upend 208 years of tradition in the Marine Corps
and
Navy tradition in the naming of the department that has served both
services
so well." What could be more compelling than correcting
208 years of
relegating one of our military services to that
of a second class citizen?
The fact that the Marine Corps is under the
Department of the Navy has not
enhanced either service.
All this would do is recognize that the Marine Corps
as an equal partner
in the fight to protect of the freedom that we all enjoy.
I think that is the least Congress can do. Semper Fidelis.
GySgt. Fred G.Parrish Jr. (Ret)
Spring Lake, NC
The Marine Corps and Navy are indeed
team members
and should be recognized as such.
---- George Carrington
......US Navy 1971-1975
The time is right for this change.
I was Raised in the Navy and my
Grandfather was at Pearl Harbor and
served 30 years in the Navy.
I am no less proud, but feel that
this change should be made now.
---- Paul "Doc" Doolittle
..................Littleton, CO
...................Marine Vetran 81 - 91
Jim "Bagpipes" Taylor
USMC (Ret.)
Combined
Action Company Oscar
III CAG, III MAF
As a brother of three servicemen (1
Marine Officer, 2 AirForce NCOs),
the son of an Army veteran and the grandson of a WWII Army veteran,
this name change encapsulates the respect and honor that all our servicemen
and women have fought for. The symbolism of such a change is more precious
than any medal of valour, and more inspirational than any monument
constructed for our fallen heros.
----Roy Mirenda
New York, NY
Having served as a Marine throughout WWII and as a
reserve called back to serve
with Weapons/2/5 in Korea I've always been proud
of my Marine Corp service.
Two of my sons served in the Corp the eldest served
for
twenty six year and retired as an E9. We would have
like to have the Marine Corp
to be listed as its own department in recognition
of the service
of the Corp in battle in several wars in my lifetime
and before.
---- Bill Houghton,
USMC (Ret.)
Staff Sergeant
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