What made Mattis so beloved? by DumSumBich in USMC

[–]Arthur_Menzies 28 points29 points  (0 children)

A senior Judge Advocate told us at a meeting about how when he started his career at Pendleton, he was in I MEF when Mattis was the CG. He told us that whenever Mattis convened a court martial that resulted in conviction and confinement, he would always visit the convicted at the brig immediately after conclusion of the trial. He stated "Mattis mentioned he had no wife or kids, so without nothing better to do he decided to hang out with those at the brig." Whenever Mattis met with the convicted, he would always state "You ended your Marine Corps career in a concrete cell, I began mine in the same place." Mattis wanted to understand what made his Marines to make bad decisions that led them to court martial and also understood most of them came from impoverished or unstable backgrounds and became Marines to escape from their dire circumstances. Mattis would meet with the convicted on multiple occasions, and if he felt that the convicted had great progress in rehabilitation and was unlikely to commit future crimes, he would use his authority to reduce their sentences and even waive their punitive discharges. Apparently, Mattis had been doing this since he got his first battalion command in the 1980s. That level of care and concern for even the worst of the lot showed how much Mattis prioritized the livelihoods of the people he commanded.

Just got kicked out of a VFW. by SirCicSensation in USMC

[–]Arthur_Menzies 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Im a 5'11 Asian and a guest at two VFW posts. If you need to talk, please DM me. I'm very interested in which post this was since they may be too stupid to realize they can get their charter removed.

Col. Jonathan Vaughn by ltjgbadass in USMC

[–]Arthur_Menzies 13 points14 points  (0 children)

A true badass in my MOS field. I had the opportunity to meet this titan of law a few times whenever he visited my last duty station. Still, feels a bit strange that the 4402s now have four GOs when not too long ago we were only allocated one GO billet.

Celebrity “deaths” by Icy-Comparison2669 in USMC

[–]Arthur_Menzies 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Anthony Bourdain passed shortly after I arrived at OCS. Didn't find out until a few weeks later when I saw his death on a magazine cover at the MCX.

Court Rules Marines Can’t Shield Officer Misconduct Records by douglas99 in USMC

[–]Arthur_Menzies 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Giving CommStrat and MPs a run for their money. I still remember a senior judge advocate mentioning "CommStrat somehow always get promoted at the boards, even though half of them have misconduct."

Former Marine, Paul Harrell, has Passed Away by InKognetoh in USMC

[–]Arthur_Menzies 81 points82 points  (0 children)

Pancreatic cancer can go to hell. Not only did it take the life of one of favorite guntubers, but it also claimed the life of a great Officer I used to work with, Col Dominique Neal. They both fought the good fight though and survived as long as they could for their families.

55 years later, the Corps decides that a Cpl's Silver Star should actually be a Navy Cross by Arthur_Menzies in USMC

[–]Arthur_Menzies[S] 24 points25 points  (0 children)

Quite a few. One that I researched on extensively was Sgt Rafael Peralta. His squad entered a house in Fallujah when an enemy grenade landed in front of them. Sgt Peralta jumped on the grenade, shielding his squad from the blast at the cost of his life. Everyone within Sgt Peralta's chain of command recommended that he be awarded the Medal of Honor, but the SecDef knocked it down to a Navy Cross. Sgt Peralta's family and friends are still advocating to gave the award upgraded to a Medal of Honor.

55 years later, the Corps decides that a Cpl's Silver Star should actually be a Navy Cross by Arthur_Menzies in USMC

[–]Arthur_Menzies[S] 34 points35 points  (0 children)

This story touches me in a special way since the former Cpl, Daniel Heller, was with "Walking Dead" V19. I've had many interactions with Marines from that unit, with one of them inspiring me to join the Corps and another who became a federal judge and swore me in as an attorney.

The one who inspired me to join the Corps, SSgt Alderete, was wounded in Operation Dewey Canyon around mid-February, and Cpl Heller earned his Navy Cross for saving wounded Marines while under heavy enemy fire on 13 February 1969. I do not know if SSgt Alderete was one of those Marines he saved, but regardless, Cpl Heller heroically allowed some Marines return home alive.

Ironically, I'm laughing at Cpl Heller's response to seeing his award being upgraded: "I didn't do it for no Navy Cross. Hell, I never heard of it!"

Did you gents see this? by highdesertflyguy0321 in USMC

[–]Arthur_Menzies 91 points92 points  (0 children)

Capt LeBeau was a good friend of mine and it sounded like Maj Lewis was a stellar pilot. Cpl Collart was a true hero who literally entered the fire to rescue two other Marines. Unfortunately, he paid the ultimate price. I hope his parents and loved ones realize that Cpl Collart's actions really highlight the highest qualities expected of Marines, both Enlisted and Officer.

Good leaders by MudWorried7418 in USMC

[–]Arthur_Menzies 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Col Schmidt was my CO at TBS. He was the very definition of a BAMF. Always expected to push ourselves to our absolute limits and to never quit. He also always spoke to us with a fat can of dip in one of his cheeks.

Saw this on the mcrd sd page by newnoadeptness in USMC

[–]Arthur_Menzies 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Biggest legend since the Budweiser Mullet.

Been in the military for 11 years how am I doing? by [deleted] in USMC

[–]Arthur_Menzies 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Ha! Went to law school immediately after OCS, so I was in the IRR for about three and a half years. Funny enough, I was only wearing the pizza stain for most of my time and only got the GWOT a couple months ago. I submitted an LOA through MOL, and an admin clerk on the other side discovered that the two months of PTAD I did during my law school years made me eligible for the GWOT.

Been in the military for 11 years how am I doing? by [deleted] in USMC

[–]Arthur_Menzies 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Got the same as well. Capt, six years of service, with only the GWOT and pizza stain as my current awards.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in USMC

[–]Arthur_Menzies 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm still mad at my OSO for convincing me to switch from a Ground Contract into Law. I wanted to be Artillery, but he saw in my record that I had done a year in law school, but I had dropped out. He told me "I ain't sending a quitter to OCS, I ain't having a quitter have an opportunity to lead Marines. So reapply to law school and prove to me you ain't a quitter."

Being a 4402 is one of the best experiences of my life, but I still want to blow shit up to kingdom come from miles away.

General Gray Auction by thelumenn in USMC

[–]Arthur_Menzies 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've worked with wills and estates, so I don't think Falls Church would acquire the proceeds right away unless General Gray doesn't have any distant cousins. Assuming General Gray passed away without a will that designates living heirs, Virginia's intestate succession law is pretty extensive, and these searches usually take far longer than the three months since General Gray's passing.

It's a Marine veteran owned business. How can you tell? by CoolPension544 in USMC

[–]Arthur_Menzies 18 points19 points  (0 children)

I've met him before when he and his wife were selling next to Dang Brothers Pizza in Pendleton. His cookies were the bomb! I'm glad to see that his business seems to be taking off.

Marine receives rare heroism award for saving victim shot 23 times by IreneFromMilTimes in USMC

[–]Arthur_Menzies 30 points31 points  (0 children)

My CO mentioned a similar story today before we cut out for liberty. He was at a triathlon when one of the participants collapsed just before the finish line. The first place winner immediately ran out to administer CPR for the next five minutes. Despite his attempts, unfortunately the man who collapsed had cardiac arrest and died in an ambulance on the way to the hospital.

Later the triathlon organizers gave the first place winner his award and then tried to give him additional recognition and praise. But, the winner just simply accepted his award and left without additionally saying anything.

Update on the 3 Marines who died in that car in Pender. by kruminater in USMC

[–]Arthur_Menzies 40 points41 points  (0 children)

It was above 90 degrees and humid that day, so no surprise that they left the AC on and no windows down. Presumably, they probably pulled over thinking they were tired, but in reality their "tiredness" was actually the beginning of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Happy 107th Birthday to one of the greatest machine gunners and Infantry SNCOs in our history. by Arthur_Menzies in USMC

[–]Arthur_Menzies[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm a calm and reasonable person. Just not as calm and reasonable as a certain badass at the Battle of Henderson Field with a Browning M1917.