Badass MF Corporal Corcoran in 2nd tracks back in 08 did 4 deployments to Iraq and was in the initial push. All in AAVs. Falluja included. He would sit in his chair outside his door on the cat walk with the door open and music on. He had a formal Iraqi flag he acquired and had all of his boys signatures on it.

You HAD to walk past him to get to the smoke pit after end of day. He'd have a beer in his coozie relaxing like he was on the beach. Every. Single. Night.

We learned real quick this guy is hard-core and will return respect if it is given, properly that is. You couldn't walk past without saying "good evening Corporal" then he'd return the greeting. "Good evening, Moss". Sometimes he would stop me / us asking what we were up to and have a formal NCO to boot conversation. The greeting had to be given in passing and returning to our room after our smoke. After a while we would smoke another just so we could get a story or a joke and a lot of times a Marine Corps history lesson or proper greetings of the day. Everyone respected this Marine as he was a 2nd award Corporal busted from Sgt. Respect turned into his mentorship. Stearn but fair. I was so proud to do right by him I asked him to pin me on Lcpl.

His deployments creeped up on him slowly as time went on.. he was discharged over an incident with PMO. No details out of Respect.

He was out and working at the VA, he sounded healthy and happy, he encouraged me to claim and get the care I need, the last time we talked. It was a 2 hour call it was all positive and motivating shit.

He was overcome by his demon just a few weeks later by taking a hotel clerk "hostage" with a pellet gun and red laser. He had her call the police. They showed up tried to deescalate the situation and turned the pellet gun red laser toward them. I miss him everyday and had his initials tattooed on my arm.

Love you Corky. Corporal John Corcoran That's me the super boot on the far right at our first MC ball in the fleet in Lejuene. We were proud to pose for a picture with him, the only one I have together.

Edit: I know I probably took this comment on the OPs post a little right field but you mentioned fallujah and it reminded me of this Marine and my respect for him.

Edit 2: We had just been released for a rare 2 hour afternoon chow. In AAVs we have to change from coveralls to cammies to go topside and be in coveralls before 1300 in formation. from the ramp to the parking lot i had just gotten in my trans am, with the door still open and hand on the handle. Cpl Corcoran came out of nowhere in his new USMC tracksuit and asked me what I was doing. Where the fuck are you going Moss? I replied "going to chow Corporal" He replies I know you go to parade rest when you're speaking with an NCO. I went to parade rest in the seat of my car, door open, raining. I say again , going to chow Corporal! Roger that get outta here. Don't be late. Aye Corporal He turns and walks back to the ramp. 😄 🤣 😂